Forensic Medicine HOSA state
test
subpoena - -when a scientist is required to testify, this is sent to them
stating when and where the trial is to be held
-voir dire - -the prosecution introduces a scientist as an expert and then
describes their qualifications, training, background etc.
-admissible evidence - -evidence that is determined to be admitted into
evidence and be considered in rendering the decision
-inculpatory evidence - -evidence that tends to implicate the accused party
-exculpatory evidence - -evidence that tends to free from guilt the accused
party
-direct evidence - -info that establishes a fact directly with out the need for
further inference. ex-eyewitness testimony that the defendant fired the fatal
shot
-circumstantial evidence - -evidence requiring the trier of fact to infer
certain events. ex-linking a defendant to a crime scene via DNA, hair, fiber,
footprint etc.
-reconstruction evidence - -evidence of the events leading to, occurring
during, and occurring after a crime is committed
-association evidence - -establishes a relationship between objects. ex-
glass, hairs, bullets, fingerprints
-class characteristic - -evidence that does not reference a particular suspect
-individual characteristics - -associate a particular individual with the
commission of a crime
-trace evidence - -whenever two objects come in contact with each other a
transfer of material will occur
-first responding officers - -usually police officers, fire department,
emergency medical personnel. Their actions at the crime scene will form the
basis for successful or unsuccessful resolution of the investigation
, -the 4 major tasks when documenting a crime scene - -1)note taking
2)videography 3)photography 4)sketching. all 4 are necessary and non is an
adequate substitute for another
-exsanguination - -when a person loses significant amount of blood dies by
bleeding to death
-serum - -the fluid or liquid portion of the blood that does not clot
-DNA is found... - -the nuclei of white blood cells
-viscosity - -resistance to change of form or flow. blood is approximately 6x
more viscous than water
-angle of impact - -90 degrees-the resulting blood stain will be circular in
shape. less than 90 degrees- create an elliptical blood stain
-mist pattern - -bloodstain pattern resulting from blood reduced to a spray
of localized micro drops as a result of the force applied. often with gunshot
injuries
-forensic pathologist - -physicians specializing in the diagnosis of disease
and subspecialize in the borderline area between law and medicine and
determines the cause of death
-in most US states medical examiners are required to be - -forensic
pathologist
-forensic pathology - -the specialty of medicine and investigating the
causes of sudden and unexpected deaths
-4 goals of death investigation - -1) determine cause 2) determine manner
3) determine mechanism 4) determine time of death
-cause of death - -the disease or injury that initiated the lethal chain of
events that led to death. underlying cause. injury trumps disease
-mechanism of death - -a biochemical or physiologic abnormality produced
by the cause of death that is incompatible with life
-manners of death - -natural, accidental, homicidal, suicidal. NASH
-rigor mortis - -stiffening of muscles following death. usually seen about 4
hours after death. usually disappears 24 to 36 hours after death
test
subpoena - -when a scientist is required to testify, this is sent to them
stating when and where the trial is to be held
-voir dire - -the prosecution introduces a scientist as an expert and then
describes their qualifications, training, background etc.
-admissible evidence - -evidence that is determined to be admitted into
evidence and be considered in rendering the decision
-inculpatory evidence - -evidence that tends to implicate the accused party
-exculpatory evidence - -evidence that tends to free from guilt the accused
party
-direct evidence - -info that establishes a fact directly with out the need for
further inference. ex-eyewitness testimony that the defendant fired the fatal
shot
-circumstantial evidence - -evidence requiring the trier of fact to infer
certain events. ex-linking a defendant to a crime scene via DNA, hair, fiber,
footprint etc.
-reconstruction evidence - -evidence of the events leading to, occurring
during, and occurring after a crime is committed
-association evidence - -establishes a relationship between objects. ex-
glass, hairs, bullets, fingerprints
-class characteristic - -evidence that does not reference a particular suspect
-individual characteristics - -associate a particular individual with the
commission of a crime
-trace evidence - -whenever two objects come in contact with each other a
transfer of material will occur
-first responding officers - -usually police officers, fire department,
emergency medical personnel. Their actions at the crime scene will form the
basis for successful or unsuccessful resolution of the investigation
, -the 4 major tasks when documenting a crime scene - -1)note taking
2)videography 3)photography 4)sketching. all 4 are necessary and non is an
adequate substitute for another
-exsanguination - -when a person loses significant amount of blood dies by
bleeding to death
-serum - -the fluid or liquid portion of the blood that does not clot
-DNA is found... - -the nuclei of white blood cells
-viscosity - -resistance to change of form or flow. blood is approximately 6x
more viscous than water
-angle of impact - -90 degrees-the resulting blood stain will be circular in
shape. less than 90 degrees- create an elliptical blood stain
-mist pattern - -bloodstain pattern resulting from blood reduced to a spray
of localized micro drops as a result of the force applied. often with gunshot
injuries
-forensic pathologist - -physicians specializing in the diagnosis of disease
and subspecialize in the borderline area between law and medicine and
determines the cause of death
-in most US states medical examiners are required to be - -forensic
pathologist
-forensic pathology - -the specialty of medicine and investigating the
causes of sudden and unexpected deaths
-4 goals of death investigation - -1) determine cause 2) determine manner
3) determine mechanism 4) determine time of death
-cause of death - -the disease or injury that initiated the lethal chain of
events that led to death. underlying cause. injury trumps disease
-mechanism of death - -a biochemical or physiologic abnormality produced
by the cause of death that is incompatible with life
-manners of death - -natural, accidental, homicidal, suicidal. NASH
-rigor mortis - -stiffening of muscles following death. usually seen about 4
hours after death. usually disappears 24 to 36 hours after death
