title: [Cadaver mix-up--an avoidable problem?].
abstract: Depending on local conditions it may happen from time to time that no officer involved in the previous investigation is present during the forensic autopsy. In this case, the post mortem examiner often has to rely solely on written documentation concerning the identity of the deceased. The authors report a case where the body had already been mixed up with another body by the undertaker prior to the inspection by the police. In spite of clear distinguishing characteristics in the written documentation, this led to the wrong body being autopsied. For the post mortem examiner, the only safe way to identify a body seems to be the presence of persons who had known the deceased or of police officers as acknowledging witnesses. If these conditions are not given, other means of safe information on the identity are called for, for example a "police body card" similar to an evidence card.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin am Universitätsklinikum Giessen.
authors.forename: Marcel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verhoff
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risse
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weiler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000473:pathology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male