Postmortem Analysis of Electrogram Records from an Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator (ICD) in the Reconstruction of a Road Traffic Accident

The case of a 69‐year‐old man, equipped with an ICD and suffering from several chronic cardiac diseases, who died in a car accident, was presented. We analyzed electrogram records from the ICD explanted from the body during the autopsy, which showed that the driver had suffered from malignant ventricular arrhythmia—ventricular fibrillation (VF). A thorough analysis of the details of the accident, as well as the timing of VF and the rhythm observed after the discharge of the ICD showed that the direct cause of the accident was the episode of arrhythmia resulting in a loss of consciousness. Therefore, the presented case illustrates the usefulness of postmortem analysis of electrogram records from ICDs in the reconstruction of road traffic accidents. In such cases, if the victims are implanted with ICDs, it should be a routine procedure performed by forensic pathologists.     

An Anthropological Examination of the Types of Skeletal Fractures Resulting from Fatal High (˃3 m) Free Falls,

Fatal falls from heights (?3 m) often result in blunt force trauma (BFT) to the skeleton. The fracture patterns that result from this BFT mechanism are well understood in forensic anthropology and forensic pathology; however, details of the specific types of fractures that result remain poorly documented. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed examination of the types of fractures that may result from fatal high falls. Fractures were recorded from 95 full‐body postmortem computed tomography scans of individuals known to have died from a high fall. Trauma was then analyzed taking into account the extrinsic and intrinsic variables known to influence a fall using multiple logistic regression. A total of 339 types of fractures were classified, of which 16 were significantly associated with this BFT mechanism. Classified fracture types will augment anthropological interpretations of the circumstances of death from BFT in cases of suspected high falls.     

Obesity,Body Mass Index,and Homicide

The body mass indexes (BMIs) of 100 randomly selected homicide cases from the files of Forensic Science SA were compared to the Australian and South Australian populations. There were 70 males and 30 females (M:F = 2.3:1; age range 18–84 years; mean 42.3 years). There was a substantially lower proportion of obese individuals in the homicide population compared to the general Australian and South Australian populations (19% [vs.] 27.9% and 30%, respectively). A second group of 144 randomly selected autopsy cases where the BMI was ≥40 kg/m² was analyzed. There were 77 males and 67 females (M:F = 1.2:1; age range 23–78 years; mean 46.7 years). The majority of deaths were natural (N = 108), with no homicides. A negative association between obesity and homicide has, therefore, been demonstrated. Reasons for the lower numbers of obese/morbidly obese individuals among homicide victims are unclear, but may include physical protection afforded by fat padding from sharp force injuries, and relative sociodemographic isolation.     

Drug Recognition Evaluation and Chemical Confirmation of a 25C‐NBOMe‐Impaired Driver

This case report details an individual arrested for drug‐impaired driving after leaving the scene of multiple motor vehicle collisions and evading police. The driver was examined by a drug recognition expert and failed the drug recognition evaluation. The driver admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, an antidepressant medication and “N‐bomb,” a novel psychoactive substance that possesses hallucinogenic properties. Toxicological analyses at the Centre of Forensic Sciences’ Toronto laboratory revealed only the substance 2‐[4‐chloro‐2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]‐N‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine (25C‐NBOMe) in the accused's urine. This is the first report in which 25C‐NBOMe was identified through DRE and toxicological analyses in a drug‐impaired driver.     

试析高校工会干部的人格力量

高等教育的改革与发展、高校工会工作对象的特殊性、高校工会工作的性质等决定了高校工会干部必须塑造高尚的人格,以自身的人格力量来做好工会工作。高校工会干部的高尚人格对其自身发展具有调节作用,对教职工、校风及社会风气具有影响作用。因此,要加强高校工会干部人格力量的培养。     

对重复保险若干法律问题的思考

我国《保险法》对重复保险的界定并不全面 ,对其概念应采狭义说 ;重复保险的构成要件 ,尚欠缺保险金额总和超过保险价值及保险期间发生交叉或重合两个要件 ;重复保险的适用范围 ,应限于具有损失填补性质的险种 ;对重复保险的法律效力 ,应区分善意和恶意 ,并采取不同的规制原则。     

生命的守护还是疏离——评醉驾入刑的情节

鉴于醉酒驾驶机动车发生交通意外、危害公共安全的现象日益严重,《刑法修正案（八）》适时增设了危险驾驶罪,将醉酒驾驶行为纳入刑法调整范围。但是,单从《刑法修正案（八）》第22条条文本身以及立法原意来看,醉驾入刑似乎并不需要考虑情节问题。最高人民法院、最高人民检察院和公安部在对待此问题上的看法也不相一致。为此,有必要从理论上对该问题进行梳理、论证,以树立“情节”在醉驾入刑中的核心地位。     

危险驾驶罪立法解读

《中华人民共和国刑法修正案（八）》中增设了危险驾驶罪,这主要是为了应对风险社会的挑战而在刑法上做出的调整,以加强对公共交通安全的保护。本罪在行为上包括竞驰型和醉酒型两种危险驾驶行为,主观上为故意,在性质上属于危险犯。对本罪的认定要注意与交通肇事罪和以危险方法危害公共安全罪的区别。此外,本罪的立法仍然存在不完善之处,如行为方式范围较窄,入罪门槛过低,资格刑缺失等,有必要在今后的立法中进一步完善。     

侦查实验笔录简论

侦查实验是指侦查人员在刑事诉讼过程中按照科学的原则和方法,在模拟案件原有条件基础上所设计、实施的．旨在查明与案件有关的事实的存在、发生的可能性或其状态、过程的法科学活动。侦查实验笔录是侦查实验过程及结论的载体．是侦查人员按照法定格式制作的,用于描述和证明实验过程中发生的具有法律意义的事实状况的书面记录。在证据法学视野内...