Citation

Gehb I, Rittner C, Puschel K. Leg. Med. (Elsevier) 2009; 11(1): S174-S175.

Affiliation

Institut fuer Rechtsmedizin, Universitaetsklinikum Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena, Fuerstengraben 23, 07743 Jena, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Japanese Society of Legal Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.038

PMID

19261527

Abstract

A case of a 24-year-old woman who gave birth to a mature newborn is reported. Many injuries at the head, neck and shoulders, back, mouth and throat which at least partly indicated unassisted childbirth were observed during autopsy. Some injuries, especially the different scull fractures were discussed controversially on trial. One expert postulated a coaction of unassisted childbirth and blunt head trauma to be responsible for the exitus. The other expert considered it possible that all injuries could originate from unassisted childbirth. The court consented to the opinion that all injuries could be the consequence of unassisted childbirth and the woman was exculpated from the accusation of manslaughter.

Language: en