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Tracqui A, Deguette C, Delabarde T, Delannoy Y, Plu I, Sec I, Hamza L, Taccoen M, Ludes B. An overview of forensic operations performed following the terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015, in Paris. Forensic Sci Res 2020; 5:202-207. [PMID: 33209503 PMCID: PMC7646576 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2020.1811487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
On the evening of November 13, 2015, the city of Paris and its surroundings was hit by a series of attacks committed by terrorist groups, using firearms and explosives. The final toll was 140 people deceased (130 victims and 10 terrorists or their relatives) and more than 413 injured, making these attacks the worst mass killings ever recorded in Paris in peacetime. This article presents the forensic operations carried out at the Medicolegal Institute of Paris (MLIP) following these attacks. A total of 68 autopsies of bodies or body fragments and 83 external examinations were performed within 7 days, and the overall forensic operations (including formal identification of the latest victims) were completed 10 days after the attacks. Over this period, 156 body presentations (some bodies were presented several times) were provided to families or relatives. Regarding the 130 civilian casualties, 129 died from firearm wounds and one died from blast injuries after an explosion. Of the 10 terrorists or their relatives who were killed, eight died from suicide bombing, one was shot by police and one died from crush injuries due to partial collapse of a building following the police raid against a terrorist’s hideout after the attacks. All mass shootings were perpetrated with AK-47 or Zastava M70 assault rifles using 7.62 mm × 39 mm cartridges. In the case of ballistic injuries, death was most often obviously caused by craniocerebral injuries, extensive organ lacerations and/or massive haemorrhage. Among the terrorists killed by bombing, the lesion patterns were body transection, multiple amputations, extreme organ lacerations and the presence of foreign bodies owing to the shrapnel load (steel nuts, glass fragments) or the explosive charge fastening system of the devices. This discussion highlights the particular difficulties of interpretation encountered within the framework of ballistic injuries, a conclusion that should lead to a modest and realistic approach in these exceptional situations where forensic operations involve a very large number of victims in a constrained time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Tracqui
- Medico-Legal Institute of Besançon, Saint-Jacques Hospital, Besançon, France.,Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Céline Deguette
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Forensic Medical Emergency Service, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Tania Delabarde
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, BABEL, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Yann Delannoy
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Medico-Legal Institute of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Plu
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Sec
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Forensic Medical Emergency Service, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Lilia Hamza
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Service d'Accueil des Urgences, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France
| | | | - Bertrand Ludes
- Medico-Legal Institute of Paris, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, BABEL, CNRS, Paris, France
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Soussy N, Dufayet L, Rey-Salmon C, Gorgiard C. The attack on November 13, 2015: organisation of the medico-judicial unit of the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris. Forensic Sci Res 2020; 5:232-235. [PMID: 33209507 PMCID: PMC7646567 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2020.1768629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The main aims of a medico-judicial unit are to ensure the examination of assault victims or persons in custody and to perform sampling necessary for investigations. Forensic examination is essential to describe the wounds and to evaluate the consequences of an assault by determining days of total incapacity for work (ITT). After the Paris attack on November 13, 2015, 121 victims were examined at the medico-judicial units of Paris. An initial forensic certificate was issued by forensic physicians with an assessment of physical ITT. A consultation with a forensic psychiatrist was systematically scheduled on the same day to obtain a forensic certificate for the psychological ITT. The average age of the victims was (33 ± 7) years and the sex ratio was 1.26. Most victims were in the Bataclan concert hall (78/121 or 64.5%). Of the 121 victims, 73 (60.3%) had projectile lesions (bullets, bolts and nuts, metal fragments, etc.) and 48 (39.7%) had non-projectile lesions (bruises, hematomas, etc.). The average physical ITT was 27 days (0; 190). The evaluation of the number of days of physical ITT was often complicated as some patients were still in medical care at the time of the initial examination. This experience enabled the Paris medico-judicial unit to anticipate the management required should any future event of this magnitude occur. It also reinforced cooperation between the medico-judicial unit and other departments, mostly emergency services and the forensic psychiatric unit. The Paris medico-judicial unit was thus able to offer a unique place of care by providing both physical and psychological examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Soussy
- Medico-Judicial Unit, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Laurène Dufayet
- Medico-Judicial Unit, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, APHP, Paris, France.,Centre AntiPoison et de Toxicovigilance, Hôpital Fernand Widal, APHP, Paris, France
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3
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The unexpected effect of Syrian civil war in Turkey: Change of forensic postmortem case pattern. J Forensic Leg Med 2019; 66:65-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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4
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Cipolloni L, Baldari B, Besi L, Scopetti M, Di Sanzo M, Ursu S, Fineschi V. Management of victims occurred in mass disaster: The experience of center Italy earthquake 2016. J Forensic Leg Med 2019; 62:19-24. [PMID: 30634072 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Cipolloni
- Department of Anatomic, Hystologic, Orthopedic and Forensic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Roma, Italy.
| | - Benedetta Baldari
- Department of Anatomic, Hystologic, Orthopedic and Forensic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Roma, Italy
| | - Livia Besi
- Department of Anatomic, Hystologic, Orthopedic and Forensic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Scopetti
- Department of Anatomic, Hystologic, Orthopedic and Forensic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Roma, Italy
| | - Mariantonia Di Sanzo
- Department of Anatomic, Hystologic, Orthopedic and Forensic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Roma, Italy
| | - Simona Ursu
- Department of Planning, Evaluation and Control, Umberto I University Hospital, Viale del Policlinico, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- Department of Anatomic, Hystologic, Orthopedic and Forensic Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Roma, Italy
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Terrorist explosive belt attacks: specific patterns of bone traumas. Int J Legal Med 2018; 133:565-569. [PMID: 30498903 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-018-1977-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In cases of terrorist bomb attacks, the issue of victim identification is the principal aim. For investigators and justice, terrorists must also be identified in a timely manner. The fragmentation of bodies caused by explosive devices however makes this operation difficult. The cases presented correspond to six autopsies of perpetrators carrying explosives. Their explosive belts produced different body sections on areas correlated with the location on the body of carrying explosive charges. Indeed, cross-sectional areas are the signature of the level of explosive devices on the body, and some fracture features through the damage of certain areas of constitutional weaknesses are specific elements to consider. These elements can allow a quick distinction between victims and terrorists, in order to assist in the medico-legal process of identification.
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de Boer HH, Blau S, Delabarde T, Hackman L. The role of forensic anthropology in disaster victim identification (DVI): recent developments and future prospects. Forensic Sci Res 2018; 4:303-315. [PMID: 32002489 PMCID: PMC6968550 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1480460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification (DVI) for over a century, but over the past decades, there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for the forensic anthropologist. The experiences gained from some of the latest DVI operations have provided valuable lessons that have had an effect on the role and perceived value of the forensic anthropologist as part of the team managing the DVI process. This paper provides an overview of the ways in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to DVI with emphasis on how recent experiences and developments in forensic anthropology have augmented these contributions. Consequently, this paper reviews the value of forensic anthropological expertise at the disaster scene and in the mortuary, and discusses the way in which forensic anthropologists may use imaging in DVI efforts. Tissue-sampling strategies for DNA analysis, especially in the case of disasters with a large amount of fragmented remains, are also discussed. Additionally, consideration is given to the identification of survivors; the statistical basis of identification; the challenges related to some specific disaster scenarios; and education and training. Although forensic anthropologists can play a valuable role in different phases of a DVI operation, they never practice in isolation. The DVI process requires a multidisciplinary approach and, therefore, has a close collaboration with a range of forensic specialists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans H. de Boer
- Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Soren Blau
- Department of Forensic Services, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Monash, Australia
| | | | - Lucina Hackman
- Centre for Anatomy and Human ID (CAHID), University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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Prajapati G, Sarode SC, Sarode GS, Shelke P, Awan KH, Patil S. Role of forensic odontology in the identification of victims of major mass disasters across the world: A systematic review. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199791. [PMID: 29953497 PMCID: PMC6023217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Forensic odontology (FO) is regarded in the literature as one of the most reliable and economical scientific methods for victim identification in mass disasters (MDs). The present paper systematically reviews the role of forensic odontologists in various global MDs. METHOD A comprehensive search of the literature databases (PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar), along with cross-referencing published peer-reviewed articles, was conducted. The search included full texts, abstracts or titles, had no inclusion year limit (searched until September 2017) and was limited to the English language. Keywords included a combination of 'Forensic odontology', 'Dental records', 'Victim identification', 'Natural mass disaster', 'Criminal mass disaster', 'Accidental mass disaster' and 'Victim disaster'. RESULTS Of the included disasters (20), 12 (57.14%) were accidental, 5 (23.80%) natural and 3 (19.04%) were criminal. The maximum number of victims was associated with the Japan tsunami (15892), followed by the Thailand tsunami (4280) and the Estonia ferry disaster (852). A total of 23654 victims were reported, of which 20569 (86.96%) were positively identified. Reports from 17 MDs included the use of FO in victim identification [3025 (14.70%) cases]. In addition, 1094 victims (5.31%; from 7 papers) were identified using FO in combination with other methodologies. The highest percentage of victims was identified using FO following the Kentucky air crash (47; 100%), followed by the Newark air crash (38; 76%), the Nepal air crash (10; 71.42%), the France air crash (56; 65.88%), the Australian bushfire (14; 63.63%), and the Estonia ferry disaster (57; 60.63%). CONCLUSION FO has played a significant role in victim identification in several MDs around the world. The success of FO-based identification is heavily dependent on the availability of ante-mortem records from general dental practitioners. Hence, adequate knowledge about FO and appropriate dental record keeping among general dental practitioners are critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghevaram Prajapati
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Sachin C. Sarode
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
- * E-mail:
| | - Gargi S. Sarode
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Pankaj Shelke
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, India
| | - Kamran H. Awan
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Shankargouda Patil
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Forensic answers to the 14th of July 2016 terrorist attack in Nice. Int J Legal Med 2018; 133:277-287. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-018-1833-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Carli P, Pons F, Levraut J, Millet B, Tourtier JP, Ludes B, Lafont A, Riou B. The French emergency medical services after the Paris and Nice terrorist attacks: what have we learnt? Lancet 2017; 390:2735-2738. [PMID: 28754492 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(17)31590-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Carli
- University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; SAMU de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Paris, France
| | - François Pons
- French Military Health Service Academy, Ecole du Val-de-Grâce, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Levraut
- University Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France; Department of Emergency Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France
| | - Bruno Millet
- Sorbonne Universités, University Pierre et Marie et Curie, Paris, France; Department of Psychiatry, APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Bertrand Ludes
- University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Institute of Legal Medicine, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Lafont
- University Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Department of Cardiology, APHP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Riou
- Sorbonne Universités, University Pierre et Marie et Curie, Paris, France; Department of Emergency Medicine and Surgery, APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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10
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Numata N, Makinae H, Yoshida W, Daimon M, Murakami H. Disaster Victim Identification using Orthopedic Implants in the 2011 East-Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2017; 241:219-223. [DOI: 10.1620/tjem.241.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Norio Numata
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tochinai Hospital
| | - Haruka Makinae
- Department of Cardiology, Iwate Medical University Hanamaki Onsen Hospital
| | | | - Masao Daimon
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The University of Tokyo
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11
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Melo M, Ata-Ali J. Accuracy of the estimation of dental age in comparison with chronological age in a Spanish sample of 2641 living subjects using the Demirjian and Nolla methods. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 270:276.e1-276.e7. [PMID: 28029496 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Age estimation is an important procedure in forensic medicine and is carried out for a number of reasons. For living persons, age estimation is performed in order to assess whether a child has attained the age of criminal responsibility, in scenarios involving rape, kidnapping or marriage, in premature births, adoption procedures, illegal immigration, pediatric endocrine diseases and orthodontic malocclusion, as well as in circumstances in which the birth certificate is not available or the records are suspect. According to data from the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the number of people seeking refugee status continued to increase in the last years, driven by the wars in Syria and Iraq, as well as by conflict and instability in Afghanistan, Eritrea and elsewhere. The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy of estimating dental age versus chronological age using the Nolla and Demirjian methods in a Spanish population. A final sample of 2641 panoramic X-rays corresponding to Spanish patients (1322 males and 1319 females) between 7-21 years of age was analyzed. Dental age was assessed using the Nolla and Demirjian methods, establishing comparisons with mean chronological age based on the Student t-test for paired samples, followed by the generation of a linear regression model. Both methods showed slight discrepancy between dental and chronological age. On examining the reproducibility of the Nolla and Demirjian methods, technical errors of 0.84% and 0.62%, respectively, were observed. On average, the Nolla method was found to estimate an age 0.213years younger than the chronological age, while the Demirjian method estimated an age 0.853years older than the chronological age. Linear combination of the mean Nolla and Demirjian estimates increased the predictive capacity to 99.2%. In conclusion the Nolla and Demirjian methods were found to be accurate in estimating chronological age from dental age in a Spanish population. The error was found to be greater in males than in females, and involved an over-estimation of age with the Demirjian method and under-estimation of age with the Nolla method. Combination of the Nolla and Demirjian methods for estimating chronological age from dental age affords a predictive capacity of over 99%, and is fast and easy to perform, and inexpensive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier Ata-Ali
- Public Dental Health Service, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, Valencia, Spain; Department of Dentistry, European University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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Barbería E, Martin-Fumadó C, Galtés I, Subirana-Domenech M, Puigbarraca-Sol L, Vidal-Gutiérrez C, Valverde-Villarreal JL, Castellà-García J, Medallo-Muñiz J. Managing the identification of the mortal victims run over by a train in the Castelldefels railway accident (Barcelona). Leg Med (Tokyo) 2015; 17:366-70. [PMID: 26026775 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The identification of disaster victims is the formal, organized process of identifying multiple bodies after an incident with multiple victims. The appropriate management of these incidents, particularly of the bodies, is one of the most crucial aspects of disaster response and its importance has led to the evolution of the concept of Disaster Victim Management. The aim of this study is to report how the process of identifying the 12 mortal victims of a railway accident in June 2010 in Castelldefels (Barcelona) was managed. The methodology used complied with the National Protocol for medical forensic and scientific police response to mass casualty incidents. The family assistance center also served as an ante mortem (AM) office. Despite the fragmentation of the bodies, all the victims were identified satisfactorily. The main problems observed during the management of the disaster were due to the state of the bodies, which raised many doubts as to the number of fatalities. The experience prompted a proposal to establish some recommendations on limiting the number of fragments to be analyzed genetically. We would like to stress the importance of setting up a Data Integration Center which brought together all the participating institutions, and collected and supervised all the different identification reports in a single comprehensive text addressed to the competent legal authority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eneko Barbería
- Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciències Médiques Bàsiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
| | | | - Ignasi Galtés
- Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | | | - Lourdes Puigbarraca-Sol
- División de Policía Científica de la Comisaría General de Investigación Criminal de Mossos d'Esquadra, Sabadell, Spain
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Feijóo G, Barbería E, De Nova J, Prieto JL. Dental age estimation in Spanish children. Forensic Sci Int 2012; 223:371.e1-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2011] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 08/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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14
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Fonseca GM, Salgado Alarcon G, Cantín M. Lenguaje odontológico forense e identificación: obstáculos por falta de estándares. REVISTA ESPAÑOLA DE MEDICINA LEGAL 2011; 37:162-168. [DOI: 10.1016/s0377-4732(11)70083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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15
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Lake AW, James H, Berketa JW. Disaster victim identification: quality management from an odontology perspective. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2011; 8:157-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s12024-011-9286-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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Permanent teeth development in a Spanish sample. Application to dental age estimation. Forensic Sci Int 2011; 214:213.e1-6. [PMID: 21940122 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the chronology of different stages of dental development, according to Demirjian, in a sample of Spanish children, which will enable us to build a database that will be used as a reference in regard to the dental development of individuals of our socio-geographic environment. In the same studied sample, a calculation of the dental age according to Demirjian was carried out. This study was conducted in a final sample consisting of 1010 orthopantograms, corresponding to Spanish children (485 boys and 525 girls) ages 2-16. Comparing the age of onset of the different stages among the children, evidence was found that girls had an earlier general development than boys. These differences were only statistically significant in teeth and concrete stages. The canine teeth revealed greater gender dimorphism, with significant differences in all stages compared with the upper canines. The method proposed by Demirjian for dental age calculation resulted in a significant overestimation of dental age in relation to the chronological age in boys (average of 0.87 years) and girls (average of 0.55 years). Data from this study may be used as reference for dental maturity, as well as a standard for estimating age in Spanish children.
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Leditschke J, Collett S, Ellen R. Mortuary operations in the aftermath of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Forensic Sci Int 2010; 205:8-14. [PMID: 21159456 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2010] [Revised: 11/03/2010] [Accepted: 11/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
On the day of the 2009 Victorian bushfires the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine activated its emergency plan. Within 48 h a temporary body storage facility was constructed adjacent to the existing mortuary. This temporary facility had the capacity to store up to 300 deceased persons. Pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, police and mortuary assistants responded from all around Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. The existing forensic mortuary and staff were divided into two areas: DVI (disaster victim identification) and "routine operations". A high priority for the mortuary was to ensure the casework of the "routine" deceased persons (those cases which were not related to the bushfires) was handled concurrently and in a timely manner. On admission each set of victim remains was given both a Coroner's case number in addition to the DVI number allocated at the scene. The case was CT scanned, examined by a pathologist, an anthropologist, and odontologist and in some instances a fingerprint expert. Where possible a DNA sample was taken. All processes, samples, labels and paperwork underwent a quality assurance check prior to the case completion. Regular audits were conducted. All of post mortem examinations were completed within 20 days of admission. Occupational health and safety issues of the staff were a high priority; this included correct manual handling, infection control and psychological debriefings. During the operation it was found that some remains were contaminated with asbestos. Procedures were set in place to manage these cases individually and each was isolated to reduce the risk of exposure by staff to asbestos. This overall mortuary operation identified a number of significant challenges, in particular the management of multiple parts of human remains for one individual. A new procedure was developed to ensure that all human remains, where possible, were reconciled with identified deceased persons prior to the release to the funeral director. It also highlighted the need to have well documented plans in place including plans for temporary mortuary facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Leditschke
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 57-83 Kavanagh St., Southbank, VIC 3006, Australia.
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18
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Bassed R, Leditschke J. Forensic medical lessons learned from the Victorian Bushfire Disaster: recommendations from the Phase 5 debrief. Forensic Sci Int 2010; 205:73-6. [PMID: 20650575 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2010] [Revised: 06/24/2010] [Accepted: 06/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The February 7th 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia, resulted in the deaths of 173 individuals, of whom 164 were included in the subsequent DVI operation. The final stage of the International DVI protocol is a debrief, referred to as Phase 5. The Phase 5 operational debrief process conducted in the wake of this disaster was designed for the purpose of developing new strategies in light of this experience. The agencies involved included the Coroners Court of Victoria, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, the Department of Justice, and Victoria Police. During the course of this debriefing process strategies and protocols were developed which aim to improve the capacity of all agencies to respond and resolve future incidents. This paper outlines the Phase 5 debrief carried out in the 6 months following the final coronial identification board, and details the findings and recommendations made by the agencies involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Bassed
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh St., Southbank, Melbourne, Australia.
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Identificación de menores en situaciones de grandes catástrofes. An Pediatr (Barc) 2009; 70:392-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2009.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2008] [Revised: 01/07/2009] [Accepted: 01/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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