Emerging issues in the approach to submerged bodies: Water-related deaths in Friuli, northeastern Italy (1993-2020). Analysis of post-mortem reports and some unusual cases.

IF 1.5 4区 医学 Q1 LAW Medicine, Science and the Law Pub Date : 2023-07-01 DOI:10.1177/00258024221127574
Francesco Simonit, Antonio Colatutto, Fabiola Giudici, Ugo Da Broi, Orazio Sciarappa, Lorenzo Desinan
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

When analysing bodies recovered from a watery environment, all manners of death, a variety of causes of death and the possibility of body disposal have to be considered. Unclear circumstances of death, unidentified victims and body decomposition may hamper a forensic investigation. The lack of specific and sensitive drowning-related autopsy findings and post-mortem blood alcohol levels (blood alcohol concentrations (BACs)) may also lead to erroneous conclusions. We reviewed the autopsy records for all bodies recovered from water in Friuli, northeastern Italy, over a 28-year period, focusing on death circumstances, autopsy findings and blood alcohol levels. Some unusual cases were examined separately. Among the 69 cases, there were 32 accidents, 13 suicides, 4 homicides, 6 natural and 14 undetermined deaths. Causes of death included 51 drownings, 6 undetermined, 5 cardiac deaths and 7 non-drownings. Six deaths in a bathtub and one diving-related death were also included. Acute alcohol intoxication was ascertained in 22 of 40 victims. Some significant limitations in the approach to water-related deaths have been highlighted: although emphysema aquosum and external foam resulted to be the most reliable indicators, a determination of drowning based exclusively on autopsy findings cannot be ascertained with certainty. Furthermore, it was found that the standard definitions of wet and dry drowning in the literature differ widely from a morphological perspective and this may lead to misleading outcomes. Post-mortem BAC changes have been critically analysed only in bodies found in cold water, and, in the absence of an alternative to blood specimens, the use of pre-set cut-off values is still necessary.

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淹没尸体处理方法中的新问题:意大利东北部弗留利与水有关的死亡(1993-2020年)。验尸报告分析和一些不寻常的案例。
在分析从水环境中发现的尸体时,必须考虑到所有的死亡方式、各种死亡原因和处理尸体的可能性。不明确的死亡情况、身份不明的受害者和尸体腐烂可能妨碍法医调查。缺乏具体和敏感的溺水相关尸检结果和死后血液酒精水平(血液酒精浓度(bac))也可能导致错误的结论。我们回顾了意大利东北部弗留利水域28年来所有尸体的尸检记录,重点关注死亡情况、尸检结果和血液酒精含量。一些不寻常的病例被单独检查。在这69起案件中,32起事故,13起自杀,4起他杀,6起自然死亡,14起不明原因死亡。死亡原因包括51例溺水死亡、6例不明原因死亡、5例心脏性死亡和7例非溺水死亡。6人死于浴缸,1人死于潜水。40名受害者中有22人被确定为急性酒精中毒。人们强调了与水有关的死亡方法的一些重大局限性:尽管水气肿和外部泡沫是最可靠的指标,但不能完全根据尸检结果确定溺水。此外,研究发现,从形态学角度来看,文献中湿溺和干溺的标准定义差异很大,这可能导致误导性的结果。仅在冷水中发现的尸体中对死后血液酒精浓度的变化进行了严格分析,并且在没有血液标本替代的情况下,仍然需要使用预先设定的临界值。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Medicine, Science and the Law
Medicine, Science and the Law 医学-医学:法
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
6.70%
发文量
53
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Medicine, Science and the Law is the official journal of the British Academy for Forensic Sciences (BAFS). It is a peer reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the knowledge of forensic science and medicine. The journal aims to inform its readers from a broad perspective and demonstrate the interrelated nature and scope of the forensic disciplines. Through a variety of authoritative research articles submitted from across the globe, it covers a range of topical medico-legal issues. The journal keeps its readers informed of developments and trends through reporting, discussing and debating current issues of importance in forensic practice.
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