Citation

Akar T, Bakar C, Şenol E, Demirel B. Gazi Med. J. 2005; 16(4): 169-171.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: All deaths without any concrete and objective proof of cause can be considered forensic death cases. In these cases, it is essential to use all facilities to clarify the cause of death. Autopsy is the most important method for determining the cause of death and the mechanism. The decision of whether an autopsy is necessary is made by the prosecutor conducting the investigation and the expert physician who performed the death investigation. As a consequence, in similar cases, with increasing knowledge and experience, the prosecutor and physician can arrive at different decisions.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between causes of death and autopsy decisions with regard to the actual causes of death among medico-legal death investigations performed in Gazi University Medical Faculty Gazi Hospital.

METHODS: The records of 802 forensic death reports submitted by Republic Prosecutors and forensic medicine expert physicians were evaluated retrospectively. Of these cases, 338 were dead on arrival and 464 of them died after arrival at Gazi Hospital between 1992 and 2004. Records were obtained from Gazi Hospital archives. Data on age, gender, cause of death and whether an autopsy was performed were evaluated and analyzed.

RESULTS: 539 of the subjects (67.2%) were male and 263 (32.8%) were female. The mean age was 38.19 ± 11.82. An autopsy was performed in 16.11% of forensic cases (129). Road accidents ranked first, with 64.5% (517), among the forensic death cases. Falling from heights and suspicious deaths followed (7.5 % and 4.7%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: It appears that Republic Prosecutors and forensic medicine experts decide on an autopsy more easily in cases of murder and suspicious deaths; whereas in cases that seem to be accidents or suicides, they are satisfied with the death examination rather than with an autopsy.

Language: tr

Keywords

human; suicide; Autopsy; evaluation; autopsy; decision making; cause of death; traffic accident; article; physician; forensic identification; retrospective study; medicolegal aspect; falling; university hospital; Death Investigation; Forensic Case