Forensic Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sciences From Recovery to Cause of Death

480 Pages·2006·10.27 MB·English

by  Aurore Schmitt

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Forensic Anthropology and Medicine

F A
ORENSIC NTHROPOLOGY
M
AND EDICINE
Complementary Sciences From Recovery
to Cause of Death
Edited by
Aurore Schmitt,
PhD
Laboratoire d'Anthropologie des Populations du Passé
Université Bordeaux 1
Talence, France
Eugénia Cunha,
PhD
Departamento de Antropologia
Universidade de Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal
and
João Pinheiro, MD, MSci
Serviço Tanatologia Forense,
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal
Coimbra, Portugal
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Cover design by Patricia F. Cleary
Production Editor: Amy Thau
Cover Illustrations: From left to right: Fig. 5, Chapter 8, "Identification and Differential Diagnosis of Trau-
matic Lesions," by Conrado Rodríguez-Martín; Fig. 13, Chapter 14, "Pathology as a Factor of Personal Iden-
tity in Forensic Anthropology," by Eugénia Cunha; Fig. 2, Chapter 4, "Biological vs Legal Age of Living
Individuals," by Francesco Introna and Carlo P. Campobasso; Fig. 4, Chapter 6, "Understanding the Circum-
stances of Decomposition When the Body Is Skeletonized," by Henri Duday and Mark Guillon.
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Forensic anthropology and medicine: complementary sciences from recovery to cause of
death/ edited by Aurore Schmitt, Eugénia Cunha, and João Pinheiro.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-58829-824-8 (alk. paper)
1. Forensic anthropology. 2. Medical jurisprudence. I. Schmitt, Aurore. II. Cunha,
Eugénia. III. Pinheiro, João.
RA1059.F672 2006
614'.1--dc22
2005055082
Preface
Recent political, religious, ethnic, and racial conflicts, as well as mass
disasters, have significantly helped to bring to light the almost unknown disci-
pline of forensic anthropology. This science has become particularly useful to
forensic pathologists because it aids in solving various puzzles, such as iden-
tifying victims and documenting crimes. On topics such as mass disasters and
crimes against humanity, teamwork between forensic pathologists and foren-
sic anthropologists has significantly increased over the few last years. This
relationship has also improved the study of routine cases in local medicolegal
institutes. When human remains are badly decomposed, partially skeleton-
ized, and/or burned, it is particularly useful for the forensic pathologist to be
assisted by a forensic anthropologist. It is not a one-way situation: when the
forensic anthropologist deals with skeletonized bodies that have some kind of
soft tissue, the advice of a forensic pathologist would be welcome.
Forensic anthropology is a subspecialty/field of physical anthropology.
Most of the background on skeletal biology was gathered on the basis of skel-
etal remains from past populations. Physical anthropologists then developed an
indisputable “know-how”; nevertheless, one must keep in mind that looking for a
missing person or checking an assumed identity is quite a different matter.
Pieces of information needed by forensic anthropologists require a higher level
of reliability and accuracy than those granted in a general archaeological con-
text. To achieve a positive identification, findings have to match with evi-
dence, particularly when genetic identification is not possible. Forensic
anthropology can also be essential in providing details about identification,
even if a DNA profile is compiled.
As a consequence, both the potential and limits of forensic anthropology
have to be equally taken into account in forensic investigations. However, this
perspective is seldom covered in the current forensic literature.
Forensic medicine is a known branch of medicine whose origin is difficult
to pinpoint, but is surely at least two or three centuries old. Often considered the
“medicine of the dead,” it is, however, much more, and today, as in the past, it
offers an unquestionable social value to the community, as illustrated in Forensic
v
vi Preface
Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sciences From Recovery to Cause
of Death. Nevertheless, forensic pathology is undoubtedly the most well-known
branch of this specialty, and the one that touches most deeply the aim of Forensic
Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sciences From Recovery to Cause
of Death. This is true for many reasons, but it is certainly owing to a recent,
successful “marriage” of forensic pathology to forensic anthropology.
There are many textbooks of forensic medicine and pathology, as well as
forensic anthropology; however, it is hard to find a reference text that covers
all three areas. Forensic Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sciences
From Recovery to Cause of Death, located on the border between forensic
anthropology and forensic pathology, aims to fill this gap. It also claims to
strengthen the contribution of forensic anthropologists in all the main stages
of forensic work, namely recovery, identification, and determination of the
cause of death. These goals will be enhanced when fulfilled within
multidisciplinary teams. Crossing over these two fields of knowledge will
obviously lead to mutual benefits. This enables forensic pathologists to grasp
the anthropological background beneath a routine autopsy, and then to increase
their knowledge.
Furthermore, we wish Forensic Anthropology and Medicine: Complemen-
tary Sciences From Recovery to Cause of Death to be a methodological bridge
between different countries of Europe and America. We believe that there is
an acute need for spreading knowledge of and expertise in its many powerful
techniques and methods across continents.
Forensic Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sciences From
Recovery to Cause of Death is geared particularly toward postgraduate
students and researchers in forensic medicine and pathology, forensic anthro-
pology, law sciences, and the police. The topics discussed range from indi-
vidual recovery and autopsy to specific contexts, such as crimes against
humanity and mass disasters.
Part I presents both disciplines—forensic anthropology and forensic
medicine focused specially on forensic pathology—starting with a brief his-
torical background leading up to the point where both sciences meet. Chapter
1 also clarifies their goals, quantifies their collaboration, analyzes both pro-
fessional careers, and discusses the challenges of a common future. The dif-
ference between the medicolegal systems and organization of forensic medicine
and pathology is debated in Chapter 2, which discusses their pros and cons in
order to justify the situation of forensic pathology in many parts of the world.
The presentation of forensic anthropology in Europe (Chapter 3) takes
into account the variety of expertises, cases, backgrounds, training, and accredita-
tion in comparison with the United States.
vii Preface
Part II deals with age estimation of living individuals for reasons of
imputability, which is one of the growing subfields of forensic anthropology
requiring cooperation between forensic physicians and forensic anthropolo-
gists. Chapter 4 explores the whole range of techniques and methods avail-
able.
The chapters in Part III discuss all the steps of forensic analysis, pre-
cisely from recovery to the cause of death. Before starting such an investiga-
tion, one must have a comprehensive understanding of the different ways a
body can change after death. Among others, a relevant interpretation of the
events surrounding a death depends on mastering body decomposition and
taphonomic processes. Chapter 5 reviews the states of preservation/decompo-
sition, and through well-illustrated cases, emphasizes both what a forensic
pathologist can obtain from a mummified or saponified body, and what a forensic
anthropologist can obtain from skeletonized remains.
The recovery scene, where every examination should start, is discussed
in Chapter 6, which underlines the importance of an archaeological background,
particularly if the remains are dry bones. The presence of forensic anthropolo-
gists and/or pathologists should be required in scene examination.
When facing a cadaver that is neither preserved nor completely skel-
etonized, or is unrecognizable, teamwork (forensic pathologist plus forensic
anthropologist) is requested, as are appropriate methodologies to carry out the
specific autopsy or examination. Chapter 7 presents a multidisciplinary approach
to this issue and the best practices in conducting an investigation, benefiting from
the experience the authors gained in different settings.
Chapter 8, which closes Part III, describes in detail the different types of
traumatic bone lesions—blunt, sharp, or gunshot wounds—which are discussed
as differential diagnoses. The relevance of these injuries to establish the cause
of death, and through it, as evidence of crimes against humanity, genocide,
and torture, is emphasized.
The main attributes of biological identity are gender, age, stature, and
ancestry. Part IV reviews the state of knowledge on assessing these four
parameters from skeletal remains. The reliability, accuracy, and limits of the
methodologies are covered, and the best approach in legal contexts is recom-
mended. Because the previously mentioned generic factors of identification
are, in most instances, not sufficient to achieve identification, the next step is
to search for other factors of individualization. Chapter 14 deals with this
issue, in particular, with pathological alterations of bones.
Part IV ends with a very useful summary chapter (Chapter 15), which
reviews several related points and discusses the advantages and disadvantages
of the several methods usually accepted as proof of identification.
viii Preface
Recently, an increasing number of systematic investigations have been
launched worldwide following crimes against humanity. The variable preser-
vation of cadavers or body parts requires contributions of both forensic patholo-
gists and forensic anthropologists to provide evidence on the cause and manner
of death. This combined effort is also required for expertise on the context of
catastrophes, whether natural and/or caused by humans, where identification
is the main issue. These crimes against humanity and mass disasters are exam-
ined in Part V, which analyzes their different problems. In mass disasters, the
cause of death is frequently known, and all efforts are then focused on victims’
identification, which is also a key issue for crimes against humanity, where the
research of cause of death still remains very important.
Within this context, Chapter 16 presents useful and relevant recommen-
dations for forensic professionals, examining their links with international
organizations in the field, such as the United Nations, the Red Cross, or Interpol,
whose actualized protocols are displayed.
Although the very beginning of any scientific issue is hard to define, it is
undeniable that the South American anthropologists, particularly the Equipo
Argentino de Antropologia Forense, are among the world’s pioneers in inves-
tigating crimes against humanity. Through practical cases, one of this
organization's members presents the adequate methodology to investigate these
crimes profiting from the group's vast experience on the subject.
Chapter 18 uses a practical case to discuss the organization and proce-
dures that are needed whenever a forensic intervention is necessary in the
context of mass disasters.
In all, Part V is a clear example of the real value of a multidisciplinary
investigation in these types of cases, showing the pros and cons and reassum-
ing the spirit of Forensic Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sci-
ences From Recovery to Cause of Death, which is to build a bridge between
two complementary sciences—forensic anthropology and forensic medicine—
that will grow and develop very closely in the future, whenever humans and
humanity have the need.
Aurore Schmitt, PhD
Eugénia Cunha, PhD
João Pinheiro, MD, MSci
Contents
Preface...............................................................................................................v
Contributors ..................................................................................................xiii
Part I. Two Sciences, One Objective
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Forensic Anthropology ...........................................................3
Douglas H. Ubelaker
CHAPTER 2
Introduction to Forensic Medicine and Pathology........................................13
João Pinheiro
CHAPTER 3
Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Pathology: The State of the Art.........39
Eugénia Cunha and Cristina Cattaneo
Part II. Aging Living Young Individuals
CHAPTER 4
Biological vs Legal Age of Living Individuals.............................................57
Francesco Introna and Carlo P. Campobasso
Part III. Pathophysiology of Death and Forensic Investigation:
From Recovery to the Cause of Death
CHAPTER 5
Decay Process of a Cadaver...........................................................................85
João Pinheiro
CHAPTER 6
Understanding the Circumstances of Decomposition When the Body
Is Skeletonized..........................................................................................117
Henri Duday and Mark Guillon
ix