Keywords:
Forensic / Necropsy studies, Conventional radiography, Medico-legal issues, Technical aspects, Forensics, Foreign bodies
Authors:
E. M. Dempsey1, M. T. Cassidy1, J. P. McNulty1, A. R. Wilkinson2; 1Dublin/IE, 2Dublin /IE
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/C-1662
Results
The aim of this study was to audit the radiographic images in the possession of the Office of the State Pathologist for cases in which the Cause of Death was attributed to gunshot injuries.
77 cases of gun-related deaths were included in this audit,
which was the most common indication for forensic imaging to be performed.
Therefore,
the types of cases were limited so that the results of the audit would be statistically significant in relation to current practice.
A review of 586 x-ray films in the possession of the Office of the State Pathologist showed that there were 126 cases in which x-rays were retained by the State Pathologists from 2000 to 2009.
Correlation with the individual case files revealed that 77 of these cases were in relation to homicides involving firearms.
The database search of the Office of the Irish State Pathologist resulted in 152 victims between 2003 and 2009 whose primary ‘Cause of Death’ was due to ‘gunshot injuries’ being identified.
The discrepancy between the results of the database and the actual cases where the State Pathologist has retained the x-rays relates to the fact that hard copies of the images are not required by the State Pathologist if there is no evidence of projectiles demonstrated.
If there is no suggestion of retained ballistic material within the body of the deceased [i.e.
if the number of entry wounds matches the number of exit wounds],
forensic imaging will not be requested.
55 cases (Table 1) in the custody of the Irish State Pathology Service demonstrated the presence of a projectile on imaging.
An audit of these images shows that in 68% of these cases (Figure 1),
an orthogonal projection was not provided by the Radiographer to assist the Pathologist in the accurate and timely localisation of the projectile.
The provision of a second projection,
usually at 90°,
is a fundamental requirement in radiography (Whitley et al.,
2005,
Carver and Carver,
2006).