Prohibiting medically assisted procreation to gay couples is not illegitimate
Publication date: Available online 19 December 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Andrea Cioffi, Fernanda CioffiAbstractIn Italy, the law n. 40 of 2004 (Norms in matter of medically assisted procreation), allows to access to the techniques of Medically assisted Procreation (MAP) exclusively to couples formed by two individuals of different sex. On the basis of this law, two couples of homosexual women were prohibited from using MAP techniques. For this reason, the couples have appealed to the competent courts that have raised doubts of constitutional legitimacy. In June 2019, the Italian Constitut...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - December 20, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Injury patterns of less lethal kinetic impact projectiles used by law enforcement officers
Publication date: Available online 19 December 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Jennifer A. Beatty, Jason P. Stopyra, John H. Slish, William P. Bozeman (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - December 20, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Bruise detection and visibility under alternate light during the first three days post-trauma
ConclusionThe results of our study suggest alternate light is more likely to detect faint bruises than normal lighting during the first three days post injury. However, more research is needed to determine which wavelengths and filter combinations are most effective during that time frame. (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - December 20, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Review of gunshot fatalities in the Northern part of Ghana; a 6 year forensic autopsy based study
This study aimed at reporting the incidence and pattern of gunshot fatalities autopsied within 2008 and 2013 year. There were 82(91.1%) male and 8(8.9%) female victims of gunshot deaths during the study period with an average of 15 cases annually. Where 60(66.7%) of the victims aged within 21–40; years resembling the pattern observed in several parts of the world. A significant number 28(31.1%) of the victims died of multiple shots or dispersed pellets affecting several parts of the body, followed by a single shot to the chest 18(20.0%), abdomen 17(18.9%), head 14(15.6%). Collectively, entry sites like the neck and upper...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - December 16, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Craniofacial injuries by firearms projectiles: An analysis of 868 deaths in the five regions of Brazil
Publication date: Available online 10 December 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Talita Lima de Castro, Sarah Teixeira Costa, Bianca Marques Santiago, Alexandre Rodrigues Freire, Eduardo Daruge Júnior, Felippe Bevilacqua Prado, Ana Cláudia RossiAbstractFirearms injuries have a legal and medico-legal importance, and are especially lethal when they reach the craniofacial regions of the victim. The present study aims to identify the characteristics of craniofacial lesions resulting from firearm projectiles, to register the most affected craniofacial regions by this type of injury and to verify the...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - December 10, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The demographics of patients presenting for sexual assault to US emergency departments
ConclusionsSexual assaults account for 4.4% of ED visits for violence. There was a decrease in the number of sexual assaults occurring on the street and at school/sporting locations over time while the number of assaults by strangers increased. For males, 54.1% occurred in those <10 years of age. The differences between patients by demographic and event characteristics is important information for health care providers. (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - December 7, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Istanbul Protocol implementation in Central Asia: Bending the arc of the moral universe
Publication date: Available online 29 November 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Vincent Iacopino, Rohini J. Haar, Michele Heisler, Rusudan BeriashviliAbstractIn countries emerging from authoritarian rule, a major challenge is ending often widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment practices. Between 2011 and 2019, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), in collaboration with the Open Society Foundation (OSF), the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) and regional and local partners, worked to establish effective torture investigation and documentation practices in the Central Asian countrie...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - November 29, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Biochemical findings in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Hospital based case-control study
ConclusionIt concludes that high sodium level and low potassium level could be associated with SUDEP. However, this is a small size study, a larger study is needed to verify the findings. Furthermore, it is difficult to conclude whether these findings are exclusive to SUDEP. (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - November 9, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The evolution of the field of legal medicine: A holistic investigation of global outputs with bibliometric analysis
This study will provide important information to a forensic scientist (a doctor, academic, and practitioner). (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - November 9, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Indicatory external findings in two cases of fatal cervical spine injury
Publication date: Available online 31 October 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Clara-Sophie Schwarz, Katrin Uebbing, Tanja Germerott, Astrid KrauskopfAbstractA fatality of an 83-year-old female experiencing acute circulatory failure as a result of a type II odontoid fracture is compared with the case of an 86-year-old female who died from delayed cardiopulmonary complications due to a lower cervical spine injury. Falls on the forehead from minor height can cause odontoid fractures especially in elderly patients, hyperextension of the neck on the other hand can lead to lower cervical spine injury...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - November 1, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Editorial Board
Publication date: November 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Volume 68Author(s): (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - October 26, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Death certification in England must evolve (Considering current technology)
Publication date: Available online 24 October 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Pablo MILLARES MARTINABSTRACTThe death certificate form used in England and Wales is analysed, compared to other available forms in top ranking economies, to determine its fitness for purpose. There are several restrictions linked to its use and also many limitations. Areas where it can evolve and where improvement can be achieved are suggested. (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - October 25, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Isolation and culture of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells harvested from postmortem adipose tissues
This study aimed to confirm whether human postmortem ASCs can be collected and culture-expanded from cadavers. Axilla subcutaneous adipose tissues were harvested during forensic autopsy and enzymatically digested to obtain a heterogeneous cell mixture, including the ASCs population. The mixture was seeded onto collagen-coated cell culture dishes and spindle-shaped adhesive and proliferative ASCs were confirmed. Senescent cells were also present, visualized as large and flattened cells. When maintained in a cool environment, ASCs were able to survive in the postmortem tissues for up to 7 days after death. We conclude that p...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - October 19, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Burnout In Physicians Who Are Exposed To Workplace Violence
ConclusionIt was found that doctors who were exposed to violence at work were exposed to verbal and psychological violence more than physical violence and especially psychological violence had a significant negative effect on burnout. (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - October 16, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

A Challenge Based Learning Experience in Forensic Medicine
ConclusionStudents demonstrated high acceptance of the context-rich design of the practical activities and educational experiences that were grounded in active learning. The effect on curriculum design is that the interactions and interdisciplinarity of the programs must be assessed, as these experiences could motivate them to engage in solving the social challenges of the 21st century. (Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - October 5, 2019 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research