Aspects of brain death

The different aspects of brain death are discussed. It is pointed out that the diagnosis of poisoning as the cause of brain death can be checked by toxicological examination of brain tissue and of blood in the sinus of the dura mater, since the metabolism in the brain and sinus blood is markedly reduced while drugs and toxic substances continue to be broken down in the other organs. Particular importance attaches to this difference in the case of crimes of violence creating conditions that predispose to brain death when the significance of a further violent act, e.g. stabbing with resultant haemorrhage, has to be assessed. The simple vital reaction of bleeding does not of itself constitute proof in such a situation, unless it is possible to say with a good degree of certainty that brain death did not occur at the moment when the victim was stabbed. It may, however, be possible to state that brain death that could have been caused by violence has not yet occurred if complex vital reactions, such as inflammation of a wound, are seen.     

A suicide using a homemade carbon monoxide "death machine"

Deaths related to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are common. Most represent accidents and suicides, and most result from CO production via the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances. Suicide via CO toxicity is not uncommon and typically involves the use of motor-vehicle exhaust as a source of CO. Presented herein is a case of suicidal CO poisoning in which the CO was produced via a chemical reaction between formic acid and sulfuric acid within a homemade device.     

"法律事实"概念的法哲学思考

本文从法哲学的角度对法律事实这一概念进行了分析 ,认为法律事实是客观事实的一种 ,并不是有些人所说的“经验事实”或“主观事实” ,也不是“法律证据”、“法的事实”、“事实上的法” ;法律事实与其它客观事实的区别只在于它对法律有意义 ,对于法律工作者来说具有历史性、间接性 ;法律事实是由事物、事物的运动及其结果构成的 ,可分为物的方面和人的方面 ,而人的方面又分为外部行为和内心活动两方面。对法律事实的认识是通过对证据的认识进行的 ,而这一认识是很复杂的 ,不同历史时期 ,人们把对证据的普遍性认识固定在法律中 ,因而形成历史上特定的证据制度。人们对法律事实的认识与法律事实本身的一致是相对的 ,也就是说 ,其真实性是相对的 ,从程度上来说可以分为两种 ,即形式真实和实质真实。人对法律事实的认识的相对性和差异性决定了司法工作中“以事实为根据”的事实只可能是客观事实或法律事实本身 ,而不能是法律工作者内心对事实的认识或一般所说的“经验事实”、“主观事实”。     

Sudden death resulting from epidermoid cyst of the brain

Epidermoid cysts of the brain are rare tumor-like lesions, most often of maldevelopmental origin. They are benign in nature, causing symptoms depending on their localization. Surgical resection leads to excellent results. A case is reported of a 68-year-old-man who died suddenly and unexpectedly. Postmortem examination revealed signs of central dysregulation and a bifrontal epidermoid cyst. To the authors' knowledge, death resulting from epidermoid cyst of the brain has not been reported so far.     

Corporate crime: A critique of the clinard report

Crime, Law and Social Change -     

"Ecstasy" and sudden cardiac death

A case of an apparently natural death in association with the use of an MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is reported. The pathophysiology of the death and the pharmacology of the drug are presented. An overview of the certification of such cases is briefly presented.