Problems in the Diagnosis of the Causes of Death in Burned Bodies

✍ Scribed by M.O.A. Malik

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 1971
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 660 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0015-7368
• DOI: 10.1016/s0015-7368(71)70620-3

✦ Synopsis

The Pathologist i s often required to perform a n autopsy on a burned body and to report to the Coroner on the cause of death. T h e post mortem Jindings by themselves may not always provide the answer-mainly because of the destructive nature of incineration and the associated heat artefacts, the difticulty i n diferentiating antemortem and post mortem burns, the different circumstances under which burns can be sustained and the presence of burns on people who might have died from m a n y other causes. T h e true cause of death, however, can usually be worked out i f the autopsy Jindings are closely interpreted in the light of the case history, evidence from the scene and the results of the relevant laboratory investigations. These points are discussed and illustrative cases are reported.