Introduction to Veterinary and Comparative Forensic Medicine

441 Pages·8.673 MB·English

Introduction to Veterinary and Comparative Forensic Medicine
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man and writing an exact man.
Francis Bacon
The design of a book is the pattern of a reality controlled and shaped by the mind of the writer. This is
completely understood about poetry or fi ction, but it is too seldom realised about books of fact.
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Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress,
and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled
to your servitude, you kill the monster and fl ing him out to the public.
Winston Churchill
Introduction to
Veterinary and
Comparative
Forensic Medicine
John E. Cooper,
DTVM, FRCPath, FIBiol, FRCVS
Diplomate, European College of Veterinary Pathologists
Professor of Veterinary Pathology
The University of the West Indies
St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Margaret E. Cooper,
LLB, FLS
Solicitor of the Supreme Court
Guest Lecturer
The University of the West Indies
St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
© 2007 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
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First published 2007 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 978-14051-1101-0
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cooper, J. E. (John Eric), 1944–
Introduction to veterinary and comparative forensic medicine / John E. Cooper, Margaret E. Cooper.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-1101-0 (hardback : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-4051-1101-1 (hardback : alk. paper)
1. Veterinary forensic medicine. I. Cooper, Margaret E. II. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Pathology, Veterinary–legislation & jurisprudence. 2. Expert Testimony. 3. Forensic Medicine. SF
769 C777i 2007]
SF769.47.C66 2007
636.089′4–dc22
2006022478
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
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Contents
Dedication, vii
Foreword, viii
Authors’ Preface, x
Acknowledgements, xiii
Abbreviations, xvi
Part A: Introduction, 1
Chapter 1 What is Forensic Medicine?, 3
Chapter 2 Special Features of Veterinary and Comparative Forensic Medicine, 10
Chapter 3 Importance and Application of Animal Law, 42
Part B: Particular Types of Case, 61
Chapter 4 Animal Welfare, 63
Chapter 5 Conservation and Wildlife Crime, 85
Part C: Methodology, 115
Chapter 6 Clinical Work, 117
Chapter 7 Pathology and Post-Mortem Examinations, 168
Chapter 8 Laboratory Investigations, 225
Chapter 9 Site Visits, Fieldwork and Collection of Evidence, 241
Chapter 10 Record-Keeping and Collation and Analysis of Findings, 261
Chapter 11 Storage, Labelling and Presentation of Material, 276
Chapter 12 Serving as an Expert and Appearing in Court, 285
Chapter 13 The Future, 304
v
Contents
Part D: Appendices, References and Further Reading, 313
Appendix A Submission and Report Forms, 315
Appendix B Journals, Societies, Organisations, Useful Addresses and Sources of
Information, 331
Appendix C Glossary of Terms, 341
Appendix D Some Case Studies, Demonstrating Approach and Techniques, 348
Appendix E Facilities and Equipment Lists, 363
Appendix F Scientifi c Names of Species and Taxa in Text, With Notes on
Taxonomy, 368
Appendix G The CRFP’s Code of Practice, 372
References and Further Reading, 374
Index, 404
The colur plate section appears after page 240
vi
Dedication
To the memory of Francis and Elizabeth Vowles, for their
encouragement and guidance and in recognition of their
shared concern for social justice
and
To Eric and Dorothy Cooper, for their interest in our joint work and their unchanging
welcome, succour and support
and
To Moses Cooper, born 10 February 2006, when this book was drawing to its conclusion
and who represents the future
vii
Foreword
There can be no doubt that forensic medicine – Just as forensic medicine covers many disparate
whether applied to humans alone or to all animals areas so too does forensic veterinary practice and all
– is becoming increasingly important in this of the relevant subjects from animal welfare to bio-
modern, litigious world. The medical/legal inter- diversity and international regulations are carefully
face, both civil or criminal, is becoming increas- and comprehensively considered in this book.
ingly challenging and it is essential that there are The extent and the variation of legislation around
practitioners available to the courts who have both the world means that no one book can deal with
the requisite knowledge and experience to perform all legal aspects, and this book relates in the main
the examinations in a satisfactory manner and who to the law as currently enacted to England
can also provide evidence to enable the court to and Wales, but it also deals with the in-
reach its verdict. creasingly important, and voluminous, European
The application of forensic techniques to the legislation and with the important international
understanding and solving of crimes has been well treaties.
established for a century or more. Despite this lon- The authors have ensured that the book is specifi -
gevity, forensic medicine still continues to develop cally designed to be practical and they have included
new specialist areas in response to pressure from the useful, focused and reliable advice on the handling
police and the criminal justice system. The special- of case-work throughout the text. The case histories
ity of veterinary forensic medicine is now an estab- that are included provide a superb basis for learning
lished, but infant, specialist area. It has been clear and for the understanding of both basic and more
for some time that it is essential that it should be advanced forensic concepts. However, the practice
provided with a clear, accurate and accepted aca- of forensic medicine does not stop at the examina-
demic footing on which to develop. This book pro- tion of a scene or the examination of the victim or
vides such a footing. perpetrator and this book recognises these crucial
This textbook emphasises the need for a method- aspects and also deals with report writing and the
ical, careful and precise approach to all problems. giving of evidence in court.
It accepts that not all practitioners will have all of This excellent book is entitled Introduction to
the precise skills that may eventually be needed in Veterinary and Comparative Forensic Medicine, but
any particular case and it emphasises that the adop- it is far more than just an ‘Introduction’. It is a
tion of the correct approach that will allow others thorough and complete overview of this developing
– possibly someone with greater specialist skills or speciality and provides both practitioners already
maybe simply an expert acting for the defence – to working within this fi eld and those seeking to
understand and to trust the process by which the develop a specialist interest and skill in veterinary
information was obtained so that they may form forensic medicine with a reliable and comprehensive
their opinions based on reliable evidence. textbook.
viii
Foreword
Those who choose to practise Veterinary Foren- and their joint efforts in writing this book refl ect
sic Medicine must now move their subject forward. their immense knowledge and enthusiasm for their
They must ensure that current and future practi- subject.
tioners are both skilled and experienced in all the
relevant areas of practice. They must insist on the Richard Shepherd, BSc, MB BS, FRCPath, DMJ
development of professional bodies and they must Senior Lecturer and Head of Department
ensure that the police, the courts and the public Forensic Medicine Unit, St. George’s Medical
insist on that professionalism and expertise. School, London
John and Margaret Cooper have worked tirelessly Past-President
for veterinary medicine around the world. To bring Section of Clinical Forensic & Legal Medicine
to one book such experience and expertise is rare The Royal Society of Medicine, London
ix
Authors’ Preface
Democracy and human rights are inseparable.
Nelson Mandela
When we fi rst proposed writing a book on forensic applied to a whole spectrum of scientifi c endeavour,
medicine, we did so because of our awareness of the much of which relates to animals, plants or the
necessity for members of the veterinary profession environment. The pressure for this has come from
to have readily available information concerning the many quarters, not least the increasing need nowa-
principles and practice of forensic science and its days to be able to defend one’s opinions, judge-
applicability to work with animals. Below we ments and statements if challenged at a later stage.
describe that need, which is now stronger than ever, Here the ‘forensic’ approach offers an ideal
and then analyse it in more detail in the introduc- paradigm.
tory chapters. In view of these trends, we decided to broaden
Over the past two years, however, our rationale the scope of this book so as to provide the reader
for producing this book has extended and we believe with an introduction to techniques and methods of
that the demand for such a text is even more press- working that are not only essential when dealing
ing. This is because the term ‘forensic’ is increas- with animals or their derivatives when part of a legal
ingly being employed in a broader sense than its action but which are also ‘good practice’ in other
original meaning of ‘relating to the law’. People fi elds. In so doing, we hope that the book will prove
from diverse scientifi c backgrounds are regularly helpful to those in various disciplines, as well as
referring to the use of ‘forensic’ methods in their veterinarians, biologists and others who are
work. For example, the designation is often made concerned with captive or free-living animals.
use of by those investigating environmental changes, Nevertheless, the main thrust of this volume
such as oil spills or damage to or destruction of coral remains how best to provide sound, reliable and
reefs. In a similar vein, archaeologists, palaeontolo- objective evidence for court cases or other legally-
gists and historians talk of employing a ‘forensic’ based hearings that concern animals or their prod-
approach to their excavations or literature searches. ucts. There has been an unprecedented increase in
‘Forensic’ here implies a detailed investigation litigation relating to animals over the past few years.
and collection of evidence, regardless of whether or Typical cases concern such issues as provenance,
not there is a specifi c legal case or enquiry pending. age-determination and parentage, causes of death,
Those involved are effectively applying forensic and health and welfare. Forensic evidence is also
method, with all its meticulousness and need for often an important component of insurance claims
proper record-keeping, to their routine activities. In and allegations of professional misconduct.
short, the detective work that has always been the Forensic veterinary medicine is part of the broader
hallmark of the forensic scientist is now being fi eld of comparative forensic medicine (see Chapter
x