SELECTED NOTES
Skeleton Keys: Forensic Identification and Trauma Analysis
August 30: What happens to a body after death? We discussed the different
pathways a body takes depending on the circumstances of death. Unattended
deaths, unexpected deaths, and deaths occurring under suspicious circumstances
are all under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner (or Coroner, depending
on the type of investigative system). We discussed the role of the funeral
director and what occurs when the body is to be cremated vs. embalmed and
buried. We also discussed embalming and autopsy procedure and touched on
some ethical issues concerning the retention of evidence and the public's
perception of the importance of specific types of tissues (i.e. the heart
and the head). We also discussed the Cause and Manner of death, alcohol
toxicity, and a gunshot wound.
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