Death abroad
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Death abroad : Medico-legal autopsy results of repatriated corpses: A retrospective analysis of cases at the Department of Legal Medicine in Frankfurt am Main. / Holz, F; Saulich, M F; Schröder, A S; Birngruber, C G; Verhoff, M A; Plenzig, S.
In: FORENSIC SCI INT, Vol. 310, 05.2020, p. 110257.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Death abroad
T2 - Medico-legal autopsy results of repatriated corpses: A retrospective analysis of cases at the Department of Legal Medicine in Frankfurt am Main
AU - Holz, F
AU - Saulich, M F
AU - Schröder, A S
AU - Birngruber, C G
AU - Verhoff, M A
AU - Plenzig, S
N1 - Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Repatriated corpses may have been autopsied abroad. The aim of the study was to compare the findings from second medico-legal autopsies with those from primary autopsies abroad to spotlight possible implications for the management of repatriated corpses.MATERIAL AND METHODS: All autopsies from a 20-year period at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Frankfurt am Main on repatriated corpses of German citizens were reviewed. The results were compared with the information from the body passports, the protocols of the autopsies in the country of death, and the police files.RESULTS: In total, 151 corpses repatriated from 56 different countries were autopsied. The interval between death and autopsy in Germany was 2-603 days (median: 11 days). 91 of the repatriated corpses (59.5%) had previously been autopsied abroad. Three body cavities had been opened in 78.0% (71/91) of the original autopsies; among them, there were 11 cases (15.5%) with dissection of all organs, as opposed to 7 cases (9.9%) with all organs intact and in situ. Of the previously autopsied corpses, 62.6% were accompanied by a body passport that noted the cause of death. In nearly 75% of these cases, the stated cause of death was compatible with that established at second autopsy. In 5 cases (10.2%), the cause of death established in the second autopsy disagreed with that on the body passport. The most prominent disparity was a cranial gunshot wound rather than the stated fatal fall.DISCUSSION: This analysis of individual cases spotlights the problematics of an uncritical approval of the body passport. In light of the different procedural autopsy standards around the world, the validity of an autopsy abroad is discussed in the context of the second autopsy results.CONCLUSION: A second external postmortem examination by qualified medical practitioners should be obligatory in all cases of repatriated corpses, with notification of the criminal police in all cases of non-natural or undetermined death. A timely second autopsy is recommended even in cases with previous autopsy abroad.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Repatriated corpses may have been autopsied abroad. The aim of the study was to compare the findings from second medico-legal autopsies with those from primary autopsies abroad to spotlight possible implications for the management of repatriated corpses.MATERIAL AND METHODS: All autopsies from a 20-year period at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Frankfurt am Main on repatriated corpses of German citizens were reviewed. The results were compared with the information from the body passports, the protocols of the autopsies in the country of death, and the police files.RESULTS: In total, 151 corpses repatriated from 56 different countries were autopsied. The interval between death and autopsy in Germany was 2-603 days (median: 11 days). 91 of the repatriated corpses (59.5%) had previously been autopsied abroad. Three body cavities had been opened in 78.0% (71/91) of the original autopsies; among them, there were 11 cases (15.5%) with dissection of all organs, as opposed to 7 cases (9.9%) with all organs intact and in situ. Of the previously autopsied corpses, 62.6% were accompanied by a body passport that noted the cause of death. In nearly 75% of these cases, the stated cause of death was compatible with that established at second autopsy. In 5 cases (10.2%), the cause of death established in the second autopsy disagreed with that on the body passport. The most prominent disparity was a cranial gunshot wound rather than the stated fatal fall.DISCUSSION: This analysis of individual cases spotlights the problematics of an uncritical approval of the body passport. In light of the different procedural autopsy standards around the world, the validity of an autopsy abroad is discussed in the context of the second autopsy results.CONCLUSION: A second external postmortem examination by qualified medical practitioners should be obligatory in all cases of repatriated corpses, with notification of the criminal police in all cases of non-natural or undetermined death. A timely second autopsy is recommended even in cases with previous autopsy abroad.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Autopsy
KW - Cause of Death
KW - Child
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Female
KW - Forensic Medicine
KW - Germany
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Transients and Migrants
KW - Wounds, Gunshot/pathology
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110257
DO - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110257
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 32224431
VL - 310
SP - 110257
JO - FORENSIC SCI INT
JF - FORENSIC SCI INT
SN - 0379-0738
ER -
