A special case of bolus fatality

The case of a 58-year-old man is reported, who had been hospitalized for almost 30 years for paranoid-hallucinatory schizophrenia. He was found unconscious in the clinic with a scarcely perceptible pulse and irregular breathing. Attempts at resuscitation were not successful. Looking at the corpse, no findings of particular value were noted. At the court-ordered autopsy, a mouse was found in the oral cavity; the head of the mouse was stuck in the laryngeal inlet. The cause of death was ascribed to asphyxia by alimentary bolus; the cause of death was apparently the effect of choking combined with a reflex action. In the large colon (megacolon) many metal objects were found. On the basis of the evidence, it was assumed that the mouse was already dead when the patient choked on it. A disturbance in the ability to swallow as a result of alcohol or medication was ruled out, as were neurological diseases.     

Human genotyposcopy: the identification of the species, sex and individual by DNA genetic imprints in a case connected with a murder attempt]

Blood stains on a knife were identified by DNA genotyposcopy. The statistical validation method has confirmed that the blood stains on material evidence belonged to the victim, the probability of random coincidence being less than 10(-11). The efficacy of using hypervariable locus-specific DNA probes and the possibility of detecting DNA impressions in blood stains stored for more than 3 months have been demonstrated.     

Legal,Ethical and Professional Concerns When Representing Children in Abuse Cases in Juvenile Court

But in every case, regardless of the parties, the welfare of the child is the controlling and important fact. This is not intended to nullify the laws of nature; for in most instances it will be found that the legal right of the parent and the interest of the child are the same. But if through misconduct or other circumstances it appears that the case is exceptional, and that the welfare of the child requires that it should be separated from its parent, the parens patriae must protect the helpless and the innocent. They are the wards of the court, the hope of the state, and the seed corn of the future. Williams v. Crosby, 118 Ga. 296 (1903).