Search results for "Legal & Forensic Medicine"

Perioperative and anesthetic deaths: toxicological and medico legal aspects

2019

Abstract Background Anesthesia has become safer during decades, though there is still a preventable mortality; the complexity of medical and surgical interventions, increasingly older and sicker patients, has created a host of new hazards in anesthesiology. In this paper, some of these perioperative (PO) fatal adverse events are investigated in terms of health responsibility. Selective literature research in several data bases, concerning perioperative and anesthetic deaths and medical responsibility, was performed. Main text A generally accepted definition of the anesthesia and perioperatory-related death still remains one of the major concerns in forensic pathology, and the terms “operati…

Preventable fatal injury during rally race: a multidisciplinary approach

2020

Abstract Introduction The motor vehicle crash (MVC) constitutes an important challenge for forensic pathology in order to identify the manner and cause of death. Our study focuses on a fatal accident during a rally race corresponding to MVC sub-category. Materials and method Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was performed before the conventional autopsy. Autoptic and PMCT data were compared. Data collection allowed analyzing biomechanical dynamics of the incident and post-traumatic injuries through qualitative-statistics and solicitation quantitative indices. Results Photo and circumstantial evidence analysis showed a wrong installation of double shoulder belt system of head and neck su…

DNA Commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics: recommendations on forensic analysis using Y-chromosome short tandem repeats

2001

Abstract During the past few years the DNA commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics has published a series of documents providing guidelines and recommendations concerning the application of DNA polymorphisms to the problems of human identification. This latest report addresses a relatively new area, namely Y-chromosome polymorphisms, with particular emphasis on short tandem repeats (STRs). This report addresses nomenclature, use of allelic ladders, population genetics and reporting methods.

2004

Background As an alternative to direct DNA sequencing of PCR products, random PCR-RFLP is an efficient technique to discriminate between species. The PCR-RFLP-method is an inexpensive tool in forensic science, even if the template is degraded or contains only traces of DNA from various species.

The medico-legal implications in medical malpractice claims during Covid-19 pandemic: Increase or trend reversal?

2020

The Covid-19 pandemic caused a marked increase in admissions to intensive care units. The critically ill patients’ condition from the infection resulted in their deaths. The healthcare facilities have got into trouble because of the pandemic. In fact, they had to create additional beds in a very short time and to protect health workers with personal protective equipment. Healthcare professionals fear that there will be an increase in complaints and medico-legal malpractice claims and hence they have urged politicians to discuss this. The Italian Parliament recently debated the topic of medical liability and passed the Decree-Law no. 18 of 17 March 2020 (DL – so called Cura Italia) by which…

Sensitive Screening of New Psychoactive Substances in Serum Using Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

2021

Abstract Analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS) still poses a challenge for many institutions due to the number of available substances and the constantly changing drug market. Both new and well-known substances keep appearing and disappearing on the market, making it hard to adapt analytical methods in a timely manner. In this study we developed a qualitative screening approach for serum samples by means of liquid chromatography--quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Samples were measured in data-dependent auto tandem mass spectrometry mode and identified by fragment spectra comparison, retention time and accurate mass. Approximately 500 NPS, including 195 synthetic cannabino…

Peculiar and Unusual Drowning in Waste Oil from Motor Vehicles: Case Report

2016

Drowning is one of the most frequent causes of accidental or suicidal death, and more rarely it is associated with a homicide. Cases of drowning in water or in the sea are common. The authors report an unusual and peculiar case of drowning, that of a woman who accidentally fell inside a collection tank of waste oil of motor vehicles.

Killing methods in Sicilian Mafia families

2019

The Sicilian Mafia is a criminal organisation founded in Sicily which is an island south of the Italian mainland in the Mediterranean Sea. Until recently, this organization was responsible for many murders and bombings. However, recently, based on the investigations known as the “Mare Nostrum” operation, the Supreme Court convicted 67 people and sent them to prison. Some defendants were found guilty of as many as 39 murders. This article reviews the forensic analysis that was used when investigating responsibility for these Mafia murders. Our review is based on the court documents and the ballistic investigations which were carried out to evaluate the reliability of “repented” or “pentiti”…

Chemical profiling of the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-CHMICA: Identification, assessment, and stability study of synthesis-related impurities in seize…

2019

In this work, the most discriminating synthesis-related impurities found in samples from seizures and controlled synthesis of the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-CHMICA (methyl (S)-2-(1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate) were characterized. Based on 61 available powder samples of MDMB-CHMICA, 15 key-impurities were assessed, isolated in larger quantities via flash chromatography and structurally elucidated and characterized via high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Apart from verifying the relation of the impurities to the major component, the interpretation of their chemical structures with distinct structural elements pro…

Phase I metabolites (organic acids) of gamma‐hydroxybutyric acid–validated quantification using GC–MS and description of endogenous concentration ran…

2020

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a sedative drug used in drug-facilitated crimes. Its detection window is very short. GHB undergoes intensive phase I metabolism to organic acids (glycolic acid, succinic acid, dihydroxybutyric acids). These could be potential analytical targets to broaden the detection window. The aim of the present study was to enable the detection of endogenous levels of these metabolites in biological samples (blood and urine). A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method using liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization with N-methyl-N-tri-methylsilyltrifluoracetamide was developed for the quantification. Validation results were consistent with international guideli…