Artefact in forensic medicine: scrotal mummification

Misinterpretation of postmortem artefacts in forensic medical practice may result in a misdiagnosis of criminal activity. Forensic physicians at the scene can liaise with forensic pathologists and visit the mortuary in the company of the crime scene investigators or scenes-of-crime officers to ensure all relevant facts are identified. In this case a postmortem change created by partial dessication of the scrotal skin was misinterpreted as a suspicious injury.