Notes+Forensic+Pathologist+Trey+J

Role of Forensic Pathologist: A medical examiner or coroner that relates the study of medicine to a court of law.

Questions to Answer 1: How they were killed 2: When did they die 3. What injuries are present 4. Why they died 5. Who is it

Report: 1. Manner of Death -> the ways a person can die a. Natural = Failure of Organs b. Homicide = someone kills someone else c. Suicide = one kills oneself d. Accidental = unexpected event e. Undetermined = 2. Cause of death-> immediate reason that someone dies (ex. Heart Attack, Kidney Failure) 3. Mechanism of Death -> Describes specific change in the body that brought on the end of life

Manner of Death -> Homicide...or Natural Cause of Death-> Gunshot wound....or Heart Attack Mechanism of Death -> Loss of Blood....Heart Stopped

Estimate time of Death - Stages of decomposition 1. Rigor Mortis-> condition immediately following death, oxygen stops flowing begins after death. Begins after death when muscles relax and then becomes rigid. - Manifests within 24 hours and is gone with in 36 hours.

ONE: Factors that affect RM 1. Ambient Temp. 2. Body Size/Weight 3. Clothing 4. Illness 5. Physical Activity 6. Sun exposure

TWO: Livor Mortis -> When the heart stops pumping blood, blood settles in the parts of the body closest to the ground (Lividity -> pooling of blood in body) Helps determine if body was moved Begins immediately and continues over 12 hours

THREE: Algor Mortis -> Process by which the body cools continually after death until it reaches room temperature. Insert a thermometer into liver, starts about an hour after death. Cools about a degree to a degree and a half F per hour.

Also effective by location and body size and clothing and weather conditions