The mirror's use in suicide

Eleven suicides in which the victim took his or her life while looking into a mirror are presented. The psychoanalytic implications of this extreme form of narcissism are discussed. Investigators should have a high index of suspicion of suicide in cases where a dead body is positioned in front of or near a mirror.     

Homicide in Alabama: an analysis of urban, suburban and rural murders in the Deep South

Eleven hundred forty-four (1144) homicides occurring in Alabama, U.S.A. during a 2-year period are presented and analyzed according to the demographic parameters of the victims, location in urban, suburban, or rural community, type of homicide based on a medical examiner's classification, presence of drugs, weapon employed and other factors. Urban dwellers, Blacks and males are found to be at high risk. Alcohol is much more prevalent than other drugs in homicide victims. Although the handgun is the weapon most commonly used throughout the state, in the rural regions the longgun is used almost as often. The difficulty of making valid comparisons with other homicide studies is discussed and the establishment of a uniform classification of homicides urged.     

Earlobe creases and coronary atherosclerosis. The view from forensic pathology

In several clinical studies, the diagonal earlobe crease has been statistically related to the presence of ischemic heart disease. Only one study of a relatively small number of hospitalized patients attempts to relate the earlobe crease with amount of stenotic coronary atherosclerosis demonstrated at necropsy. We examined the relationship between the degree of coronary atherosclerosis and the presence of a diagonal earlobe crease in 800 consecutive autopsies performed for medicolegal reasons and thus including a wide spectrum of subjects. Statistical analysis by the chi 2 test demonstrated a positive correlation (p less than 0.01) between the presence of the diagonal earlobe crease and obstructive coronary atherosclerosis narrowing on at least one major coronary artery greater than 75%. We conclude that the autopsy findings support the clinical observations that the diagonal earlobe crease is a cutaneous sign of obstructive coronary atherosclerosis and that the sign should be used accordingly.     

Trial court decision in Houle case

The plaintiffs in this case, a hospital and an attending physician, petitioned the court to exercise its parens patriae authority when the parents of a newborn with multiple birth defects refused to consent to surgery that would permit normal feeding and respiration. Basing his decision on the medical necessity and feasibility of the proposed treatments and setting aside the issue of the infant's quality of life, Justice David G. Roberts of the Superior Court ruled that the parents had no right to withhold care from their child. He authorized the infant's guardian ad litem to consent to surgery and other standard life-preserving measures that were immediately necessary, retaining jurisdiction for the court over future developments in the case.     

Demonstration of a fatal hemolytic transfusion reaction using immunoperoxidase techniques.

An immunoperoxidase technique coupled with monoclonal antibodies to the ABO blood group antigens was used to document a fatal ABO hemolytic transfusion reaction in a medical examiner's case. A case report with explanation of the technique is presented.     

Posttraumatic stress disorder. A real entity in death investigation

Posttraumatic stress disorder, formally known as battle fatigue, is a real entity in those offices where investigators and pathologists perform the role of death certifiers. Failure to acknowledge this problem may predispose the unsuspecting agency employees to frequent job changes, disruptive behavior, and substance abuse.     

Cure for the AA battery blues. Six-volt battery pack from previously discarded Polaroid batteries

The Polaroid Polapulse batteries obtained from exhausted Polaroid 600 or Polaroid SX-70 film cassettes can be used to power a 6-V camera flash. A method for attaching these previously discarded batteries is described.     

Intimal tears of the right atrium of the heart due to blunt force injuries to the abdomen. Its mechanism and implications

We present six cases involving intimal tears of the right atrium of the heart. A proposed mechanism for this injury is discussed, along with implications of the lesion in fatally abused children and traumatized older patients who survive until hospitalization.