A failure to communicate: the need for standardization of procedures for the exchange of identification information of crime and mass disaster victims.
A case is presented illustrating some of the difficulties presently encountered by Medical Examiners and law enforcement agencies in obtaining information necessary for the identification of foreign-born homicide victims. In 1982, the semiskeletonized remains of a 30 year old female citizen of the People's Republic of China were discovered in a vacant lot of a Chicago suburb. The victim had been reported missing four months previously. Although dental restorations were present, most of the work had been done several years prior to her coming to the United States. Attempts to obtain these records through diplomatic channels were unsuccessful due largely to the inexperience of both the U.S. and P.R.C. agencies involved in handling such requests. Although positive identification was eventually established by other means, the abortive attempt to obtain dental records resulted both in delay of the homicide investigation and in undue stress on the victim's family. This case demonstrates the need for the development of more rapid and effective exchange of identification information on victims of crime and mass disaster by a system analogous to that presently used to exchange information on criminals on an international scale.
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003415:Crime; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000473:pathology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000473:pathology