The postmortem examination on the abused child. Pathological, radiographic, and legal aspects.
In this article we have described for a pathologist without forensic experience the need to describe meticulously all the injuries an abused child has suffered; the reasons for this required detail and attention; the need to exclude natural disease as the cause of death; the common radiographic features and morphology of injuries found in an abused child; the responsibility of the pathologist to the dead child and any living siblings; and have given an intimation of the legal processes which may follow.
D000293:Adolescent; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004332:Drowning; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000473:pathology; D005104:Expert Testimony; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000175:diagnosis; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007237:Infanticide; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013398:Sudden Infant Death; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*