Age-Related Vulnerability to Lethal Craniocerebral Crush Injuries from Electrical Beds/Tables.
Vulnerability to accidents characterizes the extremes of life for reasons that may be similar in each age group. Two cases are reported to demonstrate increased risks of entrapment and crushing injury involving the use of electrically controlled beds/tables. Case 1: A frail 98-year-old woman with a history of dementia suffered a lethal crush injury to her head when she fell out of bed and accidentally activated its lowering mechanism. Case 2: An 18-month-old girl suffered a lethal crush injury to her head when she became trapped under a lowered electric massage table. Common devices may be dangerous if individuals do not have the mental or physical capabilities to deal with them. The forensic assessment of such deaths involves an evaluation of the neurocognitive level and physical strength of the decedent as documented in previous clinical assessments, in addition to a careful examination of the structure and function of the bed/table.
School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, 5005, Australia. roger.byard@sa.gov.au.|Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, 5000, South Australia, Australia. roger.byard@sa.gov.au.
Roger W
RW
Byard
Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, 5000, South Australia, Australia.
Jonathon
J
Herbst
School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, 5005, Australia.|Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, 5000, South Australia, Australia.
Neil E I
NE
Langlois
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma; D000071576:Crush Injuries; D003704:Dementia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
crush injury; electric bed; electric table; forensic science; frailty; geriatric; infancy