NCJ Number
37655
Journal
Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 269-276
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR TRIES TO FIND OUT WHY THE MOST RELIABLE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL METHODS OF ESTIMATING THE POST-MORTEM INTERVAL ARE NEITHER POPULAR NOR PRACTICAL IN ROUTINE FORENSIC MEDICINE CASES.
Abstract
THESE METHODS ARE REVIEWED. RECOGNIZING THAT THE EXACT MOMENT OF DEATH IN MEDICOLEGAL CASES IS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE POSTMORTEM CHANGES OF THE HUMAN BODY ARE VARIABLE AND OFTEN MISJUDGED. THE AUTHOR ADVOCATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION BE CARRIED OUT TO FIND A SUITABLE COMBINATION OF SOME PHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL TESTS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE DATA PRODUCED BY EACH METHOD TO PREVENT THE RATHER LARGE ERROR RANGE OF EACH TEST.