Pitfalls in the Interpretation of Traumatic Socioethnic Practices |
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| Authors: | Brendan S. Tanner B.S. Charles Catanese M.D. Emma O. Lew M.D. Amy Rapkiewicz M.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Orange County Office of the Medical Examiner, Orange County Government, Goshen, NY;2. Miami Dade County Medical Examiner Department, Miami, FL;3. Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City, NY |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of this case study was to raise awareness among forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators regarding two unique socioethnic practices and regional customs that have significant forensic implications. We present two cases involving coining (gua sha) and bloodletting (sapi) that represent two forms of traditional customs that involve the use of blunt force and sharp force trauma, respectively. In coining, the skin lesions are produced as a result of dermabrasion with oils and oval objects such as coin. In sapi, multiple superficial linear scrapes are made in the skin as part of a bloodletting ceremony. The identification of these lesions will prevent the interpretation of them as non‐voluntary‐inflicted trauma. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science coining
gua sha
bloodletting
sapi
ritual traditional customs forensic trauma |
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