title: Impact of identity theft on methods of identification.
abstract: Responsibility for confirming a decedent's identity commonly falls on the shoulders of the coroner or medical examiner. Misidentification of bodies results in emotional turmoil for the next-of-kin and can negatively impact the coroner's or medical examiner's career. To avoid such mishaps, the use of scientific methods to establish a positive identification is advocated. The use of scientific methods of identification may not be reliable in cases where the decedent had assumed the identity of another person. Case studies of erroneously identified bodies due to identity theft from the state medical examiner offices in Iowa and New Mexico are presented. This article discusses the scope and major concepts of identity theft and how identity theft prevents the guarantee of a positive identification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology-Autopsy Service, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. jerri.mclemore@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jerri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLemore
authors.forename: Walker
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wyman
mesh_terms: D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013800:Theft