Medicolegal investigation of death is the most crucial and significant function of the medical examiner within the criminal justice system. The medical examiner is primarily concerned with violent, sudden, unexpected, and suspicious deaths and is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death, identifying the deceased, determining the approximate time of death and injury, collecting evidence from the body, issuing the death certificate, and documenting these events through an official autopsy report. The basis of the medicolegal investigation is forensic pathology. Written for both medical and investigative professionals, Forensic Pathology, Second Edition presents an overview of medicolegal investigative systems. Completely updated, the book examines investigative techniques and procedures that lead to obtaining accurate conclusions of death by homicide, accident, or suicide.

Forensic Pathology (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)

Self-Help

DiMaio, Dominick

DiMaio M.D., Vincent J.M.

Death & Grief

CRC-Press

During a routine investigation, a suspect turns hostile. The officers on the scene spring into action and get the suspect under control by handcuffing him. Though the suspect has been successfully subdued – he dies shortly thereafter… A psychiatric patient suddenly becomes violent. The hospital staff struggles to control the patient with four point restraint. While order has been restored and the patient has been restrained – she dies soon afterward… 
Criminal and civil cases often cite “positional asphyxia” as the cause of death in such instances, blaming the rough treatment individuals may have received during restraint. The authors of Excited Delirium Syndrome: Cause of Death and Prevention, however, propose a different explanation. In this groundbreaking book, they cite the reason being a condition called Excited Delirium Syndrome, in which the normal physiological changes produced by violent activity culminate in sudden cardiac death, often in conjunction with the effects of a drug. 
After introducing the topic, the book recounts the condition’s history and examines traditional explanations as to why such deaths occur, and then counter as to why they are not justifiable. In addition, it illustrates the effects that stressors, legal medication, and drugs of abuse have on the cardiovascular system. The effects of underlying disease, including endogenous mental disease are also discussed. In addition, the book details prevention, assesses the role of first responders, investigators, and mental health professionals, and describes “high-risk” individuals. 
These topics, along with the many actual case studies that provide further insight, make Excited Delirium Syndrome: Cause of Death and Prevention an essential resource for anyone treating or interacting with those that may have this disorder.

Excited Delirium Syndrome: Cause of Death and Prevention

Health, Fitness & Dieting

DiMaio, Theresa G.

Psychology & Counseling

Written by the nation's foremost authority on gunshot wounds and forensic techniques as they relate to firearm injuries, Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques, Second Edition provides critical information on gunshot wounds and the weapons and ammunition used to inflict them. The book describes practical aspects of ballistics, wound ballistics, and the classification of various wounds caused by handguns, bang guns, rifles, and shotguns. The final chapters explain autopsy technique and procedure and laboratory analysis relating to weapons and gunshot evidence.

Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques, SECOND EDITION (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)

Criminal Law

Gunshot Wounds provides critical information in the classification of gunshot wounds caused by handguns, rimfire and centerfire weapons, rifles and shotguns, as well as some less common weaponry. Written by one of the country's leading forensic pathologists, this important reference work covers issues concerning small arms fire and forensic pathology, such as basic forensic aspects of ballistics and wound ballistics, the importance of x-rays in autopsy, the detection of gunshot residues, the correct handling of deaths caused by firearms, and suicide by firearms.

Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)

Handbook of Forensic Pathology, Second Edition is an up-to-date, concise manual illustrating all core aspects of modern forensic pathology. This edition retains the outline format of the original, which allows for quick access and rapid assimilation. Written in no-nonsense, easily understandable language, this precise and thorough yet compact resource contains extensively detailed entries from two of the nation‘s foremost authorities on gunshot wounds and forensic pathology. With numerous instructional charts and diagrams and color photographs, it organizes a wealth of instructional and immediately applicable information. Features of the second edition include a chapter on nursing home death, added information on gunshot residue, and research on tasers, pepper spray, and excited delirium syndrome. Introducing medicolegal casework and documentation, this book explains protocols for the collection and recovery of evidence and DNA analysis and lists factors used to determine time of death and identity of the deceased. It identifies the natural causes of death in children and adults before devoting the remaining chapters to the myriad of non-natural causes including homicide, suicide, accidental, and undetermined. With meticulous detail and instant access to extensive information, this handbook is an indispensable tool for forensic pathologists, law enforcement, and legal personnel, as well as pathologists in training.

Handbook of Forensic Pathology

Politics & Social Sciences

Dana M.D., Suzanna E.

Social Sciences