'Introduction to Forensic Pathology\r'

'FORENSIC PATHOLOGY OFFICER prep COURSE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH †SOUTHERN partition Introduction The purpose of the course is to teach the fundamental principle of forensic medicine to mortuary technicians with no introductory knowledge of the subject. The main emphasis bequeath be on mortuary technique, but related aspects of forensic science give be taught.The course addresses the aspects of forensic medicine that atomic number 18 most frequently encountered in practice, including those that may become the subject of testimony in court. THE AUTOPSY The word necropsy means, â€Å"to look at oneself”. Many other terms are contribute such as necropsy (to look at the dead) and postmortal (after-death). They tout ensemble in all mean the same thing. Autopsies direct been performed for a long time, and over the years the valuate of the autopsy has been proven.It is of enforce in: Assistance to family †transmissible sicknesss, netherstanding the death o f a loved one, stillness of mind Medical Staff †hospitals and doctors rout out see to it about diseases, diagnosis and also interposition rightness and sentry duty and Security †important information for quest of cases Social †insurance claims, paternity, maternity, compensation Public wellness †transmissions such as meningitis, terabyte Notes: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ motivates Regulating the mathematical process of Post-Mortem Examinations ACT |AIMS OF ACT | |Health Act 63 of 1977 |Postmortem in cases of contagious and infective diseases | | | try for of family non needed | | |Body must be exhumed if buried | | |Deals with transplantation of organs | | |Deals with removal of meander from deceased | |Inquest Act 58 of 1959 |Procedures to be followed in unnatural deaths | | |Con direct of family not needed | | | theme for inquest or criminal case | | |Removal of tissue allowed for investigation purposes | |Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 0f 1992 |Defines births and stillbirths and procedures to be followed | | |Defines conditions where a death certificate may not be issued | |Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 |Provides for the reportage of prisoners dying of unnatural | | |causes | |Health Professions Act 56 of 1974 |Defines anaesthetic deaths | |Occupational Diseases in Mines and Wo rks Act 78 of 1973 |Provides for patients who worked in mines †heart and lungs to | | |be send for further testing | | |Permission from family is needed in natural deaths | | |If postmortem being done under another Act (e. g. Inquest Act), | | |then organs may be removed and sent away without try for | Notes: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Types of Autopsies The above Acts of law dictate which type of postmortem should be performed. A. The Clinical or Academic autopsy. Performed in terms of the Health Act. Usually pe rformed by histo diagnosticians devoted to hospitals. The main indications are: a. ascertain cause of death b. Providing correlativity between medical management and symptoms c. Determining the potency of therapy d. Educating students and other health care workers e. Studying disease processes B. The rhetorical Autopsy. Performed in terms of the Inquests Act. The objective is to apply medical knowledge to legal questions in the chase of justice. Usually performed by forensic pathologists or handy medical officers. a. Determination of cause of death b. Determining the time of death c. Recovering and identifying evidence d. Providing recitation of findings e. Providing reports for law enforcement and justice Notes: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is Pathology? Just as at that place are distinct types of autopsies, there are different types of pathologists. Pathology means the study of disease. Disease is defined as abnormalities in the functioning and structure of the parts of the automobile trunk.Pathology can also mean the scientific study of the causes and effects of disease. Pathology may be divided into: Histopathology or anatomic Pathology †this branch of pathology deals with autopsies and examination of changes in tissues using a microscope and other techniques. E. g. If you have a lump under your skin, the doctor can take a weensy piece of tissue from the lump and send it to the histopathologist who will examine it under the microscope and make a diagnosis and recommend treatme nt. Chemical Pathology †diseases produce changes in the fluids of the system e. g urine, blood, spinal fluid. These body fluids can be examined and diagnoses of disease can be made from the results. E. g.When you are sent for a blood test, the chemistry of your blood is examined by a Chemical Pathologist who may then make a diagnosis. Microbiology †The study of how bacterium and viruses cause disease by examination of body tissues and fluids and isolation of organisms. E. g. pus swabs will be sent to a microbiologist to identify the bacteria causing the disease. The microbiologist will then recommend the appropriate treatment. Forensic pathology †Forensic pathology is a branch of histopathology where a trained pathologist will examine the body and it’s tissues and tolerate opinions on how trauma has caused disease or worry in the body. Forensic pathologists have knowledge of all branches of pathology as applied to death, dying and disease. Notes: _________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Health and Safety in the Mortuary The mortuary can be a dangerous place. Most dangerous in this environment is the individual who is ignorant of or who ignores the electromotive force hazards at postmortem. Such people are a danger to themselves and others. A. Risks and Hazards a. Tuberculosis Caused by inhaling the agent done the air.It is rare to contract TB through the skin. With the online human immunodeficiency virus epidemic, strains of the TB-bacterium that are very resistant to treatment are occurring. This makes contracting the disease a greater risk than before. It has been shown that corpses are more infectious than active patients. b. human immunodeficiency virus Although there is fear of acquiring HIV through postmortems, the risk of acquiring HIV in this way is very low. There is currently and 1 recorded case of occupational- begind HIV infection in a pathologist. The overall risk of getting HIV after accidental exposure by needlestick is all 0-0. 42%. Splashes of fluids into eyes/mouth reach out an infection rate of 0. 04-0. 63%.Aerosol risk (breathing septic air) has not been reported. HIV can be spaced from the cranial bones, brain and spinal fluid up to 5 days after death. No HIV could be isolated from bone dust. HIV is lightsome once outside the body, and is easily inactivated by a solution of bleach (Jik/Domestos), formalin, alcohol, peroxide or hydroxybenzene (Jeyes Fluid). c. Hepatitis B and C The way you can acquire Hepatitis B or C is similar to HIV, that is by risky sexual behaviour, intravenous drug use or through accidental occupational exposure. Hepatit is B is very infectious and faculty who have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B should not perform postmortems.Hepatitis C is less infectious, but there is no inoculation against it. The risk of transmission is 3-10%. d. Other diseases Certain viruses and bacteria can cause considerable discomfort for the autopsy technician, but are treatable. Postmortems on patients with haemorrhagic fevers are prohibited unless they are performed in specialised mortuaries. How do you reduce risk? A. Immunisation †all staff involved in autopsies or who come in contact with material from autopsies should be vaccinated against tetanus, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. B. Pre-autopsy testing †where there is reason to believe that a corpse is infected with a highly infectious organism, testing should be done before autopsy.HIV-testing in hospital autopsies is appropriate and consent is not needed. C. vesture †the following should be worn at all times: cap, eye protecti on, face mask, surgical gowns and clothes, boots, proscenium and at least one pair of gloves. wear too many layers of clothes is dangerous because it makes the technician sticky and uncomfortable. D. Reduce aerosol formation †care should be used when using power saws to open the skull. Intestines should only be opened under water. High imperativeness water hoses should not be used. Avoid splashing when handling organs. E. Equipment †equipment should be kept to a stripped and should be kept in clear slang at all times. Scalpels\r\n'