title: Diving fatality investigations: recent changes.
abstract: Modifications to the investigation procedures in diving fatalities have been incorporated into the data acquisition by diving accident investigators. The most germane proposal for investigators assessing diving fatalities is to delay the drawing of conclusions until all relevant diving information is known. This includes: the accumulation and integration of the pathological data; the access to dive computer information; re-enactments of diving incidents; post-mortem CT scans and the interpretation of intravascular and tissue gas detected. These are all discussed, with reference to the established literature and recent publications.
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Diving Medicine, Sydney, Australia, Phone: +61-(0)2-9976-5556, E-mail: puddle@bigpond.net.au.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.affiliation: Division Director, Chief Medical Examiner/Coroner, Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003664:Decompression / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004332:Drowning / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008838:Microcomputers; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005740:Gases
keywords: Diving deaths; autopsy; investigations; radiological imaging; review article