FSC100 Final Exam Prep UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
1. Methods of iden- 1. Visual
tification after 2. Photographic
death 3. Clothing and personal effects
4. Fingerprinting
5. Dental records
6. DNA
2. Early Develop- 1507: Bamberg Code describes the first written records of forensic pathology,
ment of Autopsy included provisions related to the investigation of crimes and highlighted the
in Forensic Inves- importance of medical evidence in death cases
tigations
1530: Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (AKA Carolina)
- A more extensive and comprehensive penal code
- Aimed to standardize laws in the Holy Roman Empire
- Issued by Emperor Charles V.
- requiring a medical testimony be an integral part of the proof and trials involving
decisions regarding whether the death was a homicide, etc.
- Didn't specify performing a total autopsy but wounds were opened to determine
depth & direction
- First indication of "Some degree of expertise" - people needed to be specialized
in pathology
16th Century: Ambrose Pare performed medicolegal autopsies
- Examined the lungs of smothered children to understand physiological effects
of different death
- Also studied the traces left by sexual assault
3. When do Foren- 1. When the coroner is unable to answer any of the 5 questions
sic Pathologists 2. When there is a possibility of involvement in the criminal justice system
Get Involved?
4.
, Why do patholo- Two Main Reasons:
gists perform an 1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
autopsy? 2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
5. What is a forensic - A medical doctor
pathologist? - Specialist certifications in anatomical pathology and additional training in foren-
sic pathology
- Requires at least 14 years of university & postgrad training
- Most forensic pathologists also hold master's degrees or PhDs
- Has the knowledge of the effects of disease & injury on the body in the context
of the law
6. The Pathologist 1. Category A (forensic pathologists)
Register - Can perform autopsies on all types of medicolegal cases
- This includes homicides and criminally suspicious adult and pediatric cases
2. Category B (anatomical pathologists)
- Performs autoposies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious adult cases
3. Category C (pediatric pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious pediatric cases
7. Cause of Death The actual trauma, event, disease or illness that triggers the physiological process
resulting in death (ex: asphyxia)
Can be immediate or underlying:
--> Immediate: the disease, injury, or complication directly preceding death and
which is the ultimate consequence of the underlying cause
--> Underlying: the disease or injury initiating the chain of events that ultimately
lead to the cessation of life
8. Mechanism of - The physiological or functional derangement resulting in failure of one or more
Death vital organs
, - Usually doesn't require mention in death certificates
- Ex: cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory arrest, sepsis, multisystem organ failure
9. Manner of death The means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
10. Pending Cause of - The cause of death can be named as "pending" by the pathologist if it is still
Death unknown after the autopsy and there is a possibility that further information may
permit his/her determination of the cause of death
- Indicates additional studies or investigations are needed, like toxicology in drug
related deaths
11. The Medico-Le- - a medical investigation on behalf of greater society to determine how and why
gal Autopsy its citizens die
- Performed under legislation of the Coroner's Act, NOT family consent.
12. True or False: True
When a coroner
takes jurisdiction
of a body, the
family has no
rights to the re-
mains until the
body is released
back to them
13. Goals of the - Determine the cause of death
medico-legal au- - Determine the mechanism of death
topsy: - Estimate the time of death and/or timing of injuries
- Determine the nature and mechanism of injuries
- Give opinions as to the nature of instruments/weapons that might've been
, involved in creating the observed injuries
- Trace evidence collection, etc.
14. 5 Parts of the 1. Assessment of the scene & circumstances surrounding the death
Medicolegal Au- 2. External examination of the body
topsy 3. Internal examination of the body
4. Interpretation of additional studies in the context of the case (testing like
toxicology if needed)
5. Synthesis of a medicolegal opinion (pathologist uses all gathered info to create
a comprehensive opinion including the cause and manner of death)
15. The Mortems Antemortem: before death
--> Not of significant assistance w/ manner or cause of death
Useful for identification purposes: premortem medical/dental records, character-
istics of healed injuries and bone
Perimortem: around time of death
--> Can be associated with the manner and cause of death
--> Consider two factors:
1. Nature of the lesion (type of injury: fracture, amputation, puncture)
2. Cause of lesion (event causing the wound: knife, axe, stress injury)
Postmortem: after death
--> intentional (dismemberment) or unintentional (animal scavenging)
16. Bullet Wound - A small projectile propelled at high velocity
- Pattern depends on tissue, bone and ballistic properties of the projectile
- Entrance hole usually circular
- Beveled internally, sharply edged
- Exit hole more ragged and beveled externally
- A higher velocity projectile causes greater and more rapid fracturing than low
velocity
- Bullet fragmentation is common
Answers
1. Methods of iden- 1. Visual
tification after 2. Photographic
death 3. Clothing and personal effects
4. Fingerprinting
5. Dental records
6. DNA
2. Early Develop- 1507: Bamberg Code describes the first written records of forensic pathology,
ment of Autopsy included provisions related to the investigation of crimes and highlighted the
in Forensic Inves- importance of medical evidence in death cases
tigations
1530: Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (AKA Carolina)
- A more extensive and comprehensive penal code
- Aimed to standardize laws in the Holy Roman Empire
- Issued by Emperor Charles V.
- requiring a medical testimony be an integral part of the proof and trials involving
decisions regarding whether the death was a homicide, etc.
- Didn't specify performing a total autopsy but wounds were opened to determine
depth & direction
- First indication of "Some degree of expertise" - people needed to be specialized
in pathology
16th Century: Ambrose Pare performed medicolegal autopsies
- Examined the lungs of smothered children to understand physiological effects
of different death
- Also studied the traces left by sexual assault
3. When do Foren- 1. When the coroner is unable to answer any of the 5 questions
sic Pathologists 2. When there is a possibility of involvement in the criminal justice system
Get Involved?
4.
, Why do patholo- Two Main Reasons:
gists perform an 1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
autopsy? 2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
5. What is a forensic - A medical doctor
pathologist? - Specialist certifications in anatomical pathology and additional training in foren-
sic pathology
- Requires at least 14 years of university & postgrad training
- Most forensic pathologists also hold master's degrees or PhDs
- Has the knowledge of the effects of disease & injury on the body in the context
of the law
6. The Pathologist 1. Category A (forensic pathologists)
Register - Can perform autopsies on all types of medicolegal cases
- This includes homicides and criminally suspicious adult and pediatric cases
2. Category B (anatomical pathologists)
- Performs autoposies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious adult cases
3. Category C (pediatric pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious pediatric cases
7. Cause of Death The actual trauma, event, disease or illness that triggers the physiological process
resulting in death (ex: asphyxia)
Can be immediate or underlying:
--> Immediate: the disease, injury, or complication directly preceding death and
which is the ultimate consequence of the underlying cause
--> Underlying: the disease or injury initiating the chain of events that ultimately
lead to the cessation of life
8. Mechanism of - The physiological or functional derangement resulting in failure of one or more
Death vital organs
, - Usually doesn't require mention in death certificates
- Ex: cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory arrest, sepsis, multisystem organ failure
9. Manner of death The means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
10. Pending Cause of - The cause of death can be named as "pending" by the pathologist if it is still
Death unknown after the autopsy and there is a possibility that further information may
permit his/her determination of the cause of death
- Indicates additional studies or investigations are needed, like toxicology in drug
related deaths
11. The Medico-Le- - a medical investigation on behalf of greater society to determine how and why
gal Autopsy its citizens die
- Performed under legislation of the Coroner's Act, NOT family consent.
12. True or False: True
When a coroner
takes jurisdiction
of a body, the
family has no
rights to the re-
mains until the
body is released
back to them
13. Goals of the - Determine the cause of death
medico-legal au- - Determine the mechanism of death
topsy: - Estimate the time of death and/or timing of injuries
- Determine the nature and mechanism of injuries
- Give opinions as to the nature of instruments/weapons that might've been
, involved in creating the observed injuries
- Trace evidence collection, etc.
14. 5 Parts of the 1. Assessment of the scene & circumstances surrounding the death
Medicolegal Au- 2. External examination of the body
topsy 3. Internal examination of the body
4. Interpretation of additional studies in the context of the case (testing like
toxicology if needed)
5. Synthesis of a medicolegal opinion (pathologist uses all gathered info to create
a comprehensive opinion including the cause and manner of death)
15. The Mortems Antemortem: before death
--> Not of significant assistance w/ manner or cause of death
Useful for identification purposes: premortem medical/dental records, character-
istics of healed injuries and bone
Perimortem: around time of death
--> Can be associated with the manner and cause of death
--> Consider two factors:
1. Nature of the lesion (type of injury: fracture, amputation, puncture)
2. Cause of lesion (event causing the wound: knife, axe, stress injury)
Postmortem: after death
--> intentional (dismemberment) or unintentional (animal scavenging)
16. Bullet Wound - A small projectile propelled at high velocity
- Pattern depends on tissue, bone and ballistic properties of the projectile
- Entrance hole usually circular
- Beveled internally, sharply edged
- Exit hole more ragged and beveled externally
- A higher velocity projectile causes greater and more rapid fracturing than low
velocity
- Bullet fragmentation is common
