Death caused by a signal rocket--not an isolated case*

Fatalities related to sporting events are predominantly caused by blunt force injuries especially due to the emotional involvement of crowd, but occasionally other types of trauma are reported as well. A case of very rare trauma caused by shooting with a hand-held parachute signal rocket during a football match is presented. A 17-year-old football fan sustained fatal injuries, a combination of mechanical trauma caused by rocket penetration, as well as extensive thermal burning of the thoracic viscera. Analysis of the event was based on autopsy findings and evidence produced by medicolegal and ballistic experts. Improper use of a hand-held signal rocket, designed for marine distress signals, may cause serious injuries either mechanically, due to explosion, or as a result of thermal discharge. In the reported case, pattern of injuries is discussed, and medical finding corroborated to other available evidence. The presented case is a reminder that the forensic pathologist should be informed accordingly on the type and features of weapon suspected to produce injury, to be able to understand traumatic changes, and look for potential presence of foreign bodies at postmortem examination.     

Structural power and the China-EU-Western Balkans triangular relations

Asia Europe Journal - Narratives about the challenges of China’s growing involvement with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for the region and the EU are exponentially proliferating and have...     

Rethinking subjectivity in law and ideology: A semiotic perspective

Post-Renaissance thought ushered in a new global optimism; however, postmodernist thought has recently challenged many of the claims to truth that form the basis of this line of inquiry and semiotic analysis has been one of its critical tools. Accordingly, this paper focuses on establishing a psychoanalytic semiotic perspective in law which is materially based. Law, ideology, and subjectivity are investigated in terms of discourse analysis. A Lacanian framework is integrated with a critically informed analysis that examines how the ‘what happened’ in the courtroom is constructed. It is argued that subjectivity is intrinsically connected with discourse. Two levels of discourse analysis are examined: the level of juridico-semiotic production, and the sphere of intra- and inter-subjective semiotic production. The notion of a semiotic grid constituted by three axes is developed, and extraverbal context is conceptualized as determinative. An alternative conceptualization of subjectivity in law based on Lacan is then argued for.     

Marginally discriminated: the role of outcome tests in European jurisdiction

For decades, racial profiling has been subject of intense debate in US jurisdiction. Recently, outcome tests based on economic models have contributed to the legal discourse. However, it is not readily obvious if and to what extent they also pertain to European jurisdiction, where racial profiling has only as of late stirred up controversy. In a comprehensive examination of their basic building blocks, this paper illustrates why the these tests are not particularly suited for the European case. The models are tailored to identify racial prejudice but are unfit to provide evidence of statistical discrimination, reflecting their adaption to the current US legal approach. A simple alternative test remedies this shortcoming and manages to inform the European jurisdiction.     

EVAR FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM IN ELDERLY PATIENTS,AND THE BIOETHICAL ISSUES THAT COULD GENERATE

Open repair is likely to be more cost-effective than EVAR on average in patients considered fit for open surgery. EVAR is likely to be more cost- effective than open repair for a subgroup of patients at higher risk of operative mortality. These results are based on extrapolation of mid-term results of clinical trials. But how does that affect on patients who are older than 80 years. Late survival depends very much on the patient＇s age at the time of surgery. The life expectancy in this group of patients who undergo successful Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm （AAA） open repair or EVAR is not as good as that of the age-matched general population. At this age, life expectancy is six years or more over patients who are older than 85 years, life expectancy is just five years. On the other hand, annual/one year risk of rupture in patients with AAA diameter six to seven cm is 10%-20%. At the same time, total cost of endograft implantation is at least 10,000 euro per patient, which is still extremely expensive for many countries in transition. Regarding all these facts, some countries （in transition） are forced to reassess ethical point of endovascular treatment. Simplified they haven＇t enough endografs for all patients. Vascular surgeon in this situation has need to decide how, when and who needs by priority this expensive graft. Of course, this is not medical question, but for sure question that encumbers vascular surgeons from countries in transition. Should we consider octogenarians as the first group of patient who will endure this problem？ How to decide who needs endograft as priority and who does not？ Finally, who is better candidate for endovascular, open surgical or medicament treatment from financial point of view？ These are just some of the questions, which are still open and encumber many vascular surgeons from countries with poorer healthcare system.     

Traumatic testicular displacement in motorcycle drivers

Testicular displacement is a rare clinical presentation of blunt scrotal injury that may take place in road traffic accidents involving motorcycle occupants. We are presenting two cases of motorcycle occupant fatalities, 21 and 24 years of age, where testicular displacement and other signs of groin trauma have been determined. In both cases, discrete external signs of scrotal trauma were noted on examination, while unilateral and bilateral traumatic testicular displacement, respectively, have been documented at autopsy. For motorcycle occupants involved in collision, it is necessary to perform a thorough analysis of injuries, in particular to look for specific trauma arising from fuel-tank impact to genitalia and/or groin. These injuries are of great medico-legal importance both at postmortem and in clinical cases involving motorcycle occupants involved in collision.