Heart disease vis-à-vis trauma.
Virtually all forensic experts deal not only with criminal, suspicious, accidental and suicidal deaths, but are also confronted with a wide range of deaths where a significant natural element is revealed at autopsy. The assaulted victim that dies suddenly or unexpectedly from a stroke during or immediately succeeding the receipt of some non-fatal injuries, or otherwise suffers a clinically unexplained death, can pose far greater difficulties over causation than a gun-shot or a stabbing. This paper presents an analysis of the problem and an approach for determining the cause of death in cases of concurrent trauma with heart disease, and in cases with a substantial natural element of disease but exclusion of trauma. Relevant cases with history, autopsy findings, histopathological findings and toxicological findings are presented in order to illustrate the issue from a practical angle.
Vij
K
K
Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, India.
D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004282:Documentation; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology*