title: Forensic medicine: matters of life and death.
abstract: Forensic radiology uses medical imaging to answer a variety of legal questions, including questions about suspicious and violent deaths. This article traces the history of forensic medicine and forensic radiology and outlines radiology's role in investigating death. The authors discuss the physical changes that occur after death and the procedures involved in forensic autopsies, including radiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Continuing Education, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLemore
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D003643:Death; D003644:Death Certificates; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D011871:Radiology / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D013405:Suicide; D013997:Time Factors; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging