THE ESTIMATION OF THE TIME SINCE DEATH
Abstract
Background. The retrograde estimation of the time since death is still unsuccessfully solved problem in forensic medicine. The registration of the time of death is the principle task of every coroner. It should be put down in the day, month, year and hour. There are many methods of the retrograde estimation of the time since death based on different postmortem changes. Three of the most used methods which will be described precisely based on: postmortem changes, body cooling and postmortem biochemical changes in vitreous humour.
Conclusions. The precise time of death could be established only by the statement of reliable witness or by objective records of cessation of vital functions. None of the method of the retrograde estimation of time since death is exact and the time of death could be only recorded in the interval of time. The time of death should be whenever is possible estimated by two or more different independent methods. Such results are more precise and comparable.
Downloads
References
Anon. Pravilnik o pogojih in načinu opravljanja mrliško pregledne službe. Ljubljana: Uradni list Republike Slovenije 1993; 56 (2045): 2811–3.
Maver D. Kriminalistika. Ljubljana: Uradni list Republike Slovenije, 1997: 172–4.
Požar D. Osnove kazenskega procesnega prava. Ljubljana: Uradni list Republike Slovenije, 1999: 39–56.
Milčinski J. Sodna medicina. Ljubljana: Državni sekretariat za notranje zadeve LRS, 1956: 38–8.
Knight B. Forensic pathology. 2nd ed. London: Arnold, 1996: 79–92.
Prokop O, Göhler W. Forensische Medizin. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag, 1976.
Krause D, Schneider V, Blaha R. Leichenschau am Fundort. Ein rechtsmedizinischer Leitfaden. 4. vollständig überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Wiesbaden: Ullstein Medical, 1998: 1–16.
Mueller B. Gerichtliche Medizin. Zweite, neubearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1975: 45–106.
Mallach H. Zur Frage der Todeszeitbestimmung. Berlin Med 1964; 18: 577–82.
Inoue M. Development of an instrument to measure postmortem lividity and its preliminary application to estimate the time since death. Forensic Sci Int 1994; 65: 185–93.
Vanezis P. Assessing hypostasis by colorimetry. Forensic Sci Int 1991; 52: 1–3.
Niderkorn PF. Rigor mortis. BMJ 1874; 1: 303–4.
Alberts B, Bray D, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Watson JD. Molecular biology of the cell. 3rd ed. New York: Garland Publishing, 1994: 847–57.
Krompecher T. Rigor mortis: estimation of the time since death by evaluation of cadaveric rigidity. In: Knight B ed. The estimation of the time since death in the early postmortem period. London: Arnold, 1995: 148–67.
Krompecher T, Fryc O. Experimental evaluation of rigor mortis. In: Effects of temperature on the evolution of rigor mortis. Forensic Sci Int 1981; 17: 19–26.
Mallach H, Mittmeyer HJ. Totenstarre und Totenflecke. Z Rechtsmed 1971; 69: 70–8.
Knight B, Nokes L. Temperature-based methods I. In: Knight B ed. The estimation of the time since death in the early postmortem period. London: Arnold, 1995: 3–45.
Nokes LD, Hicks B, Knight B. The postmortem temperature plateau – fact or fiction? Med Sci Law 1985; 25: 263–4.
Knight B. The evolution of methods for estimating the time of death from body temperature. Forensic Sci Int 1988; 36: 47–55.
Green M, Wright J. Postmortem interval estimation from body temperature data only. Forensic Sci Int 1985; 28: 35–6.
Morgan C, Nokes LD, Williams J, Knight B. Estimation of the postmortem period by multiple–site temperature measurements and the use of a new algorithm. Forensic Sci Int 1988; 39: 89–95.
Nokes LD, Hicks B, Knight B. The use of trachea temperatures as a means of determining the postmortem period. Med Sci Law 1986; 26: 199–202.
Henssge C. Death time estimation in casework. I. The rectal temperature time of death normogram. Forensic Sci Int 1988; 38: 209–36.
Henssge C, Althaus L, Bolt J et al. Experience with a compound method for estimating the time since death. I. Rectal temperature normogram for time since death. Int J Leg Med 2000; 113; 303–19.
Henssge C, Althaus L, Bolt J et al. Experience with a compound method for estimating the time since death. II. Integration of non-temperature-based methods. Int J Leg Med 2000; 113; 320–31.
Henssge C. Temperature-based methods II. In: Knight B ed. The estimation of the time since death in the early postmortem period. London: Arnold, 1995: 47–105.
Henssge C. Rectal temperature time of death normogram: dependence of corrective factors on the body weight under stronger thermic insulation conditions. Forensic Sci Int 1992; 54: 51–6.
Coe JI. Vitreous potassium as a measure of the postmortem interval: an historical review and critical evaluation. Forensic Sci Int 1989; 42: 201–13.
Sturner WQ. The vitreous humour; postmortem potassium changes. Lancet 1963; I: 807–8.
Sturner WQ, Gantner GE. The postmortem interval, a study of potassium in the vitreous humour. Am J Clin Path 1964; 42: 137–44.
Madea B, Henssge C, Hönig W, Gerbracht A. References in determining the time of death by potassium in vitreous humour. Forensic Sci Int 1989; 8: 231– 43.
Balažic J. Postmortalne spremembe elektrolitov očesne tekočine in čas nastopa smrti. Disertacija. Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta, 1992.
Madea B, Herrmann N, Henssge C. Precision of estimating the time since death by vitreous potassium – comparison of two different equations. Forensic Sci Int 1990; 46: 277–84.
Madea B, Henssge C. Eye changes after death. In: Knight B ed. The estimation of the time since death in the early postmortem period. London: Arnold, 1995: 106–37.
The Author transfers to the Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) all economic copyrights following form Article 22 of the Slovene Copyright and Related Rights Act (ZASP), including the right of reproduction, the right of distribution, the rental right, the right of public performance, the right of public transmission, the right of public communication by means of phonograms and videograms, the right of public presentation, the right of broadcasting, the right of rebroadcasting, the right of secondary broadcasting, the right of communication to the public, the right of transformation, the right of audiovisual adaptation and all other rights of the author according to ZASP.
The aforementioned rights are transferred non-exclusively, for an unlimited number of editions, for the term of the statutory
The Author can make use of his work himself or transfer subjective rights to others only after 3 months from date of first publishing in the journal Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal.
The Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) has the right to transfer the rights, acquired parties without explicit consent of the Author.
The Author consents that the Article be published under the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 (attribution-non-commercial) or comparable licence.
