How to do identify single cases according to the quality assurance from IOFOS. The positive identification of an unidentified body by dental parameters: A case of homicide

The positive identification of skeletal by individual dental parameters is one of the objectives of the criminal investigation. The intervention of Forensic Dentistry in some circumstances may represent the only way to obtaining a positive identification of an unidentified bodies. The teeth constitute a scientific method in forensic identification, principally due to the great resistance to the agents who provoke the destruction of the soft tissues in the corpses (putrefaction, traumatic, physical and chemical agents) and to the high morphological variability of the human teeth. The human identification in Forensic Dentistry is made by two ways: comparative and reconstructive. The identification allows to determine several parameters of forensic interest: specimen, population affinity, sex, age, stature and individualization's factors. The Forensic Dentistry is one of the most important fields in individual identification, because teeth have less variability in the chronology of events in terms of the reconstructive way. On the other side, in terms of the comparative way, this area is also important, because of the individualization's factors: positive identification in individual cases and in mass disasters. In this forensic case report, a homicide case, the objective of the medico-legal investigation was a positive identification of the unidentified corpse found one year after the crime, July 2010. The Portuguese Criminal Police of Lisbon, Homicide Group, requested to South Branch of the Portuguese National Institute of Forensic Medicine, a forensic examination by a Forensic Odontologist for dental positive identification. The objectives were: 1) post mortem reconstruction of the dental status of the victim; 2) obtain the ante mortem information of the presumable victims; 3) comparison of the post mortem information with the ante mortem information, for a positive identification of the presumable homicide victim. Materials and methods: in this field of dental investigation, the guidelines of the International Organization of Forensic Odontology were used for reconstruction of the post mortem dental profile, to register ante mortem information of the presumable victims and to compared for individualized dental factors, by using Interpol DVI Forms for Individual Case, post mortem and ante mortem forms F1 and F2. Results: the unidentified victim of homicide was positive identified where it was established the identity by more than 12 individual dental characteristics. Conclusion: the Forensic Dentistry is a very important and simple field for individual identification of unidentified corpses for application of the criminal law.     

The use of magnetic resonance imaging to examine ossification of the proximal tibial epiphysis for forensic age estimation in living individuals

The establishment of radiation-free examination procedures in the field of forensic age diagnostics in living persons is to be considered of special scientific interest so as to minimize necessary exposure to X-rays while facilitating additional assessment of skeletal development in all cases. To this end, the advantages offered by magnetic resonance imaging in securing a practical application which is as unrestricted and complication-free as possible should be among the methods exploited in investigating such indicators of skeletal maturity. Within the framework of a retrospective study, we investigated the ossification status of the proximal tibial epiphysis on the MRI scans of 124 females and 166 males aged between 10 and 30 years. All the images had been generated on a 3.0 T scanner using a T1-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence. When evaluating the ossification stage, a combination of modified classifications proposed by Schmeling et al. and by Kellinghaus et al. was used. The statistical evaluation included calculation of a variety of measures to describe specific ossification stages as well as kappa coefficients to assess intra- and inter-observer agreement on diagnoses of individual stages. In forensic contexts, completion of the 14th year of life can be adequately evidenced in females with an ossification stage IV according to Schmeling et al. and in males with an ossification stage III c according to Kellinghaus et al. or an ossification stage IV according to Schmeling et al. In forensic contexts, the presence of an ossification stage IV according to Schmeling et al. can prove that the age of 16 years has been exceeded only in the male sex, whereby for age estimation purposes the diagnosis should be in line with other skeletal maturity indicators. The results available displayed a high degree of intra- and inter-observer agreement. Examination of the ossification status of the proximal tibial epiphysis using magnetic resonance imaging represents an effective additional tool for use in radiation-free forensic age diagnostics in living persons.     

Forensische Radiologie

Forensic radiology includes both clinical and postmortem forensic radiology. Clinical forensic radiology deals with imaging of healthy people from a legal point of view, such as for determining age or to prove and document injuries in victims of crime. Postmortem forensic radiology deals with the application of modern radiological methods in order to optimise post-mortem diagnosis. X-ray examination has for decades been routinely used in postmortem diagnosis. Newer developments include the application of postmortem computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; these are the methods with the greatest information potential but also with the greatest deviations from diagnostics in living persons. Application of radiological methods for securing evidence in criminal procedures is still in its infancy. Radiologists' technical understanding and forensic doctors' knowledge of postmortem changes in a corpse must be synergised.     

Das forensisch-osteologische Gutachten – formale Anforderungen aus rechtsmedizinischer Sicht

Forensic anthropology is an applied science that helps solve forensic problems through the use of anthropological and medico-legal methods. In Germany the individual sub-disciplines of forensic anthropology are not uniformly defined. Forensic osteology examinations for expert evidence purposes are carried out both by biologists specialized in anthropology and forensic experience and by medico-legal experts with additional anthropological training. In forensic cases cooperative work between these two disciplines and a joint expert report would be ideal. In individual cases cooperation with additional disciplines such as dental medicine, archeology, geology or entomology may be necessary. Expert evidence in forensic osteology cases is subject to certain requirements concerning content and format. This paper may be viewed as a guide to these formal principles. On the whole forensic osteology expert reports should follow the conventions customary for normal medical expert reports.     

Turnaround time data for Coronial autopsies – time to complete forensic post-mortem examination reports and influencing factors for Australia and New Zealand in 2015 and 2010

Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology - This study aimed to provide information regarding key performance indicators (KPIs) for forensic pathology in Australia and New Zealand, focusing on the...     

Atmosphere of departure in forensic medicine?

Forensic medicine aims for the documentation of medical and other forensic findings in living and deceased persons for the police and the judiciary system. While in forensic genetics and forensic toxicology, high technology procedures are part of the daily work, forensic pathology is still using the old established techniques from former centuries. New methods like 3D-surface scanning and modern radiology procedures like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are becoming more and more part of scientific research in forensic sciences and are today part of the routine workflow in a some institutes of legal medicine. As a sign of this increasing interest the first Virtopsy basic course was held in September 2006 at the Center for Forensic Imaging/Virtopsy in the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bern, Switzerland. Participants from Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey and the USA took part in this first hands-on course in forensic radiology and surface scanning.     

Post-mortem computed tomography as part of dental identification – a proposed guideline

Purpose

This paper presents a proposed guideline for the use of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) during forensic dental identification. Currently, whole-body PMCT is widely used prior to autopsies for the diagnosis of fractures, organ changes, hemorrhages, and for the localization of foreign bodies, but it may also facilitate the odontological identification process in single cases and in cases involving multiple fatalities. Several studies have described the use of PMCT in forensic odontological work, but we have not found any comprehensive set of guidelines on how to perform a forensic odontological examination using PMCT. The aim was to develop guidelines for creating post-mortem dental charts during forensic odontological identification examinations using the standard functions of PMCT.

Methods

A proposed guideline was developed from 15 selected cases examined at the Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark from October 2011 to May 2012. Using the functionalities and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of OsiriX DICOM-viewer software (Pixmeo Sarl, Bernex, Geneva, Switzerland) we adjusted the contrast and brightness settings and developed a proposed guideline for creating PMCT-based dental charts. A four-step guideline was produced.

Conclusion

In our casework, we are currently using the guidelines proposed herein. The use of PMCT has allowed us to target our clinical examinations, greatly improving their efficiency. Furthermore, PMCT allows the storage of data for later documentation and research. Further research is needed to validate the proposed guideline.

     

Contribution of third molar eruption to the estimation of the forensic age of living individuals

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Forensic age estimation of a living individual is frequently performed in clinical forensic medicine. Medicolegal physicians are usually called upon by the...     

Qualit?tssicherung der forensischen Altersdiagnostik bei lebenden Personen

In the last two decades there has been a considerable increase in forensic age estimations of living persons in German-speaking and other European countries. Due to the fact that the examination methods applied and the quality of the expert reports showed major differences, a harmonization and quality assurance for providing expert reports was necessary. For this purpose the interdisciplinary ??Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics?? was founded in March 2000 to which 123 scientists from 16 different countries now belong. The scientific meetings of the work group, the realization of proficiency tests, research projects as well as the published recommendations for forensic age diagnostics have notably enhanced the quality of expert reports in the last decades and have therefore significantly contributed to legal certainty.     

Revisiting informed consent in forensic genomics in light of current technologies and the times

Informed consent is based on basic ethical principles that should be considered when conducting biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects. These principles—respect, beneficence, and justice—form the foundations of informed consent which in itself is grounded on three fundamental elements: information, comprehension, and voluntary participation. While informed consent has focused on human subjects and research, the practice has been adopted willingly in the forensic science arena primarily to acquire reference samples from family members to assist in identifying missing persons. With advances in molecular biology technologies, data mining, and access to metadata, it is important to assess whether the past informed consent process and in particular associated risks are concomitant with these increased capabilities. Given the state-of-the-art, areas in which informed consent may need to be modified and augmented are as follows: reference samples from family members in missing persons or unidentified human remains cases; targeted analysis of an individual(s) during forensic genetic genealogy cases to reduce an investigative burden; donors who provide their samples for validation studies (to include population studies and entry into databases that would be applied to forensic statistical calculations) to support implementation of procedures and operations of the forensic laboratory; family members that may contribute samples or obtain genetic information from a molecular autopsy; and use of medical and other acquired samples that could be informative for identification purposes. The informed consent process should cover (1) purpose for collection of samples; (2) process to analyze the samples (to include type of data); (3) benefits (to donor, target, family, community, etc. as applicable); (4) risks (to donor, target, family, community, etc. as applicable); (5) access to data/reports by the donor; (6) sample disposition; (7) removal of data process (i.e., expungement); (8) process to ask questions/assessment of comprehension; (9) follow-up processes; and (10) voluntary, signed, and dated consent. Issues surrounding these topics are discussed with an emphasis on addressing risk factors. Addressing informed consent will allow human subjects to make decisions voluntarily and with autonomy as well as secure the use of samples for intended use.

     

The black sheep of forensic science: military forensic and technical exploitation

The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat faced by coalition partners in Iraq and Afghanistan required concepts of operations to identify threat actors, network analysis to attack the network, and counter-IED strategies to defeat the devices. Forensic science was employed beyond its traditional law enforcement investigation and criminal justice objectives, and provided a capability for military organizations to help to counter IEDs. Forensic science in support of the expeditionary force on the battlefield is referred to as expeditionary forensic science, which is not well understood outside of the military domain. Military forensic science could be considered the black sheep of the forensic family as it is often left out or not considered alongside traditional forensic science. The purpose of this paper and plenary address, presented at the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) 24th International Symposium, is to provide the broader forensic science community with a better understanding of military expeditionary forensic science. The aim is to promote greater partnerships between law enforcement, intelligence, the criminal justice system, and military forensic science as part of the broader forensic science ‘system of systems’.

Abbreviation: System of systems (SOS); improvised explosive devices (IED)     

Hard disk online caches in picture archiving and communication systems archives: how big is beautiful?

The objective of our study was to support algorithmic recommendations for the appropriate sizing of picture archiving and communication system (PACS) caches. For a large PACS installation, a detailed analysis of current radiographic (CR), CT and MRI studies (n=400 consecutive studies, respectively) was performed. In this process every available prior examination was also considered. A new algorithmic procedure for appropriate sizing of PACS caches was developed and applied to the given cache implementation. The number of all priors was 7.6±12.3. Of them, 61% were relevant priors with an average age of 203±385 days. A basic cache (BC) that covers 12 months of current imaging results in a pre-fetching quote of 15.4% (8.6% for 24 months). In the PACS installation examined, a minimal threefold increase in cache capacity was recommended. Studies that are retrieved, prior to viewing, from the long-term archive require additional space in the extended cache (EC). An intimate and mutual interaction between hospital information system (HIS), radiology information system (RIS) and PACS minimizes this requirement and increases the time during which actual image material from the BC is available online. A basic cache size covering actual imaging of 12 months up to 24 months is recommended. The parameters governing the individual dimensions of both cache spaces and a mathematical algorithm are demonstrated.     

The current state of forensic age estimation of live subjects for the purpose of criminal prosecution

In recent years, many countries have experienced a sharp increase in the demand for forensic age estimates of live persons. From a legal perspective, such age estimates are carried out to determine whether a suspect without valid identity documents has reached the age of criminal responsibility and whether general criminal law in force for adults applies. In many countries, the age thresholds of relevance to criminal prosecution lie between 14 and 21 years. In line with recommendations issued by the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics for determining the age of live subjects in criminal proceedings, a forensic age estimate should combine the results of a physical examination, an x-ray of the hand, and a dental examination that records dentition status and evaluates an orthopantomogram. In addition, a radiological or computed tomographic examination of the clavicles is recommended to establish whether a person has attained 21 years of age. This article addresses the influence of ethnicity on the examined developmental systems. In so doing, the authors conclude that forensic age estimates should pay due heed to the proband’s socioeconomic status and ethnic origin.     

Age estimation for forensic purposes in Italy: ethical issues

Age assessment in children and young adults is a relevant medicolegal issue due to the gradual increase of persons devoid of proper identification documents in European countries. Because of the illegal immigration and growing crime rates among children and adolescents, age estimation for forensic purposes is often required. The scientific research and the extensive experience of forensic experts in the last decades focused on the use of radiographic methods addressed to evaluate the degree of skeletal or dental development as the most accurate parameters to estimate the chronological age of children and adolescents. This paper analyzes the ethical issues related to age estimation procedures based on radiographic methods, showing how the ethical principles of beneficence, nonmalevolence, justice, and autonomy may be guaranteed during the execution of the age assessment in forensic practice. The procedure might be conducted in accordance with international guidelines and protocols, though they need a higher homogenization and standardization. A strong collaboration between various scientific societies of professionals (forensic odontologists, forensic pathologists, forensic anthropologist, radiologists, pediatricians, and psychologists), who have been involved in age estimation for years, is needed to reach this goal.     

Likelihood ratio and posterior odds in forensic genetics: Two sides of the same coin

It has become widely accepted in forensics that, owing to a lack of sensible priors, the evidential value of matching DNA profiles in trace donor identification or kinship analysis is most sensibly communicated in the form of a likelihood ratio (LR). This restraint does not abate the fact that the posterior odds (PO) would be the preferred basis for returning a verdict. A completely different situation holds for Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP), which is aimed at predicting externally visible characteristics (EVCs) of a trace donor from DNA left behind at the crime scene. FDP is intended to provide leads to the police investigation helping them to find unknown trace donors that are unidentifiable by DNA profiling. The statistical models underlying FDP typically yield posterior odds (PO) for an individual possessing a certain EVC. This apparent discrepancy has led to confusion as to when LR or PO is the appropriate outcome of forensic DNA analysis to be communicated to the investigating authorities. We thus set out to clarify the distinction between LR and PO in the context of forensic DNA profiling and FDP from a statistical point of view. In so doing, we also addressed the influence of population affiliation on LR and PO. In contrast to the well-known population dependency of the LR in DNA profiling, the PO as obtained in FDP may be widely population-independent. The actual degree of independence, however, is a matter of (i) how much of the causality of the respective EVC is captured by the genetic markers used for FDP and (ii) by the extent to which non-genetic such as environmental causal factors of the same EVC are distributed equally throughout populations. The fact that an LR should be communicated in cases of DNA profiling whereas the PO are suitable for FDP does not conflict with theory, but rather reflects the immanent differences between these two forensic applications of DNA information.     

Studies on the chronology of third molar mineralization in First Nations people of Canada

Forensic age estimation of living subjects has become increasingly important in recent years. One main criterion for dental age estimation in the relevant age group is the evaluation of third molar mineralization. In the present study, we determined the stages of third molar mineralization in 347 female and 258 male First Nations people of Canada aged 11 to 29 years based on radiological evidence from 605 conventional orthopantomograms. The results presented here provide useful data on the mineralization stages of third molars that can be used for forensic estimation of the minimum and most probable ages including the range of scatter of investigated persons.     

Error rates in forensic DNA analysis: Definition,numbers, impact and communication

Forensic DNA casework is currently regarded as one of the most important types of forensic evidence, and important decisions in intelligence and justice are based on it. However, errors occasionally occur and may have very serious consequences. In other domains, error rates have been defined and published. The forensic domain is lagging behind concerning this transparency for various reasons.In this paper we provide definitions and observed frequencies for different types of errors at the Human Biological Traces Department of the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) over the years 2008–2012. Furthermore, we assess their actual and potential impact and describe how the NFI deals with the communication of these numbers to the legal justice system.We conclude that the observed relative frequency of quality failures is comparable to studies from clinical laboratories and genetic testing centres. Furthermore, this frequency is constant over the five-year study period. The most common causes of failures related to the laboratory process were contamination and human error. Most human errors could be corrected, whereas gross contamination in crime samples often resulted in irreversible consequences. Hence this type of contamination is identified as the most significant source of error. Of the known contamination incidents, most were detected by the NFI quality control system before the report was issued to the authorities, and thus did not lead to flawed decisions like false convictions. However in a very limited number of cases crucial errors were detected after the report was issued, sometimes with severe consequences. Many of these errors were made in the post-analytical phase.The error rates reported in this paper are useful for quality improvement and benchmarking, and contribute to an open research culture that promotes public trust. However, they are irrelevant in the context of a particular case. Here case-specific probabilities of undetected errors are needed. These should be reported, separately from the match probability, when requested by the court or when there are internal or external indications for error. It should also be made clear that there are various other issues to consider, like DNA transfer. Forensic statistical models, in particular Bayesian networks, may be useful to take the various uncertainties into account and demonstrate their effects on the evidential value of the forensic DNA results.     

A minimum data set approach to post-mortem computed tomography reporting for anthropological biological profiling

Anthropological examination of bones is routinely undertaken in medico-legal investigations to establish an individual’s biological profile, particularly their age. This often requires the removal of soft tissue from bone (de-fleshing), which, especially when dealing with the recently deceased, is a time consuming and invasive procedure. Recent advances in multi-detector computed tomography have made it practical to rapidly acquire high-resolution morphological skeletal information from images of “fleshed” remains. The aim of this study was to develop a short standard form, created from post-mortem computed tomography images, that contains the minimum image-set required to anthropologically assess an individual. The proposed standard forms were created for 31 juvenile forensic cases with known age-at-death, spanning the full age range of the developing human. Five observers independently used this form to estimate age-at-death. All observers estimated age in all cases, and all estimations were within the accepted ranges for traditional anthropological and odontological assessment. This study supports the implementation of this approach in forensic radiological practice.     

Fordisc 3

Forensic anthropologists are often consulted to estimate aspects of the biological profile, such as age, ancestry, sex and stature from unidentified skeletal remains. Estimating ancestry is especially challenging in developed countries that have large numbers of immigrants from underdeveloped countries. Many developed countries have also experienced secular changes in the well-established populations, most notably an increase in stature over the last 150 years, which often brings changes in cranial morphology. In order to keep forensic anthropological standards up to date with population changes in the United States, the Forensic Data Bank (FDB) of demographic and skeletal information was established. Fordisc 3 is the latest generation of statistical software to aid in constructing a biological profile using FDB data and multivariate statistical methods. Fordisc 3 is used by forensic anthropologists around the world and is regularly being improved and expanded.     

Forensic engineering: applying materials and mechanics principles to the investigation of product failures

Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles or techniques to the investigation of materials, products, structures or components that fail or do not perform as intended. In particular, forensic engineering can involve providing solutions to forensic problems by the application of engineering science. A criminal aspect may be involved in the investigation but often the problems are related to negligence, breach of contract, or providing information needed in the redesign of a product to eliminate future failures. Forensic engineering may include the investigation of the physical causes of accidents or other sources of claims and litigation (for example, patent disputes). It involves the preparation of technical engineering reports, and may require giving testimony and providing advice to assist in the resolution of disputes affecting life or property. This paper reviews the principal methods available for the analysis of failed components and then gives examples of different component failure modes through selected case studies.