title: Pitfalls in the Interpretation of Traumatic Socioethnic Practices.
abstract: The purpose of this case study was to raise awareness among forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators regarding two unique socioethnic practices and regional customs that have significant forensic implications. We present two cases involving coining (gua sha) and bloodletting (sapi) that represent two forms of traditional customs that involve the use of blunt force and sharp force trauma, respectively. In coining, the skin lesions are produced as a result of dermabrasion with oils and oval objects such as coin. In sapi, multiple superficial linear scrapes are made in the skin as part of a bloodletting ceremony. The identification of these lesions will prevent the interpretation of them as non-voluntary-inflicted trauma.
authors.affiliation: Orange County Office of the Medical Examiner, Orange County Government, Goshen, NY, 10924.
authors.forename: Brendan S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Orange County Office of the Medical Examiner, Orange County Government, Goshen, NY, 10924.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catanese
authors.affiliation: Miami Dade County Medical Examiner Department, Miami, FL, 33136.
authors.forename: Emma O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City, NY, 10016.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000473:pathology; D001815:Bloodletting; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003869:Dermabrasion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D009518:New York; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: bloodletting; coining; forensic; forensic science; gua sha; ritual; sapi; traditional customs; trauma