title: Forensic medicine in the emergency department.
abstract: Certain practices and procedures that take place in the emergency department may complicate the subsequent investigation of a death. Recognizing that the emergency physician has a duty to care for the living patient that cannot be compromised, the author focuses on the areas in which emergency department practices may be modified to better meet the need for an accurate and informed determination of the cause of death.
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy