IIJFMT 3(3) 2005
Journal Scan
A survey of teenager unnatural deaths in northern Sweden 1981-2000.
Johansson L, Stenlund H, Lindqvist P Eriksson A.
OBJECTIVE: To survey unnatural deaths among teenagers in northern Sweden and to suggest preventive measures. SETTING: The four northernmost countries (908,000inhabitants, 1991), forming 55% of the area of Sweden MATERIAL AND METHODS: All unnatural teenager deaths from 1981 through 2000 were identified in the databases of the Department of Forensic Medicine in Umea, National Board of Forensic Medicine. Police reports and autopsy findings were always studied, social and hospital records if present. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-five deaths were found, of which 267(75%) were males and 88(25%) females. Ninety, out of 327(28%) tested positive for alcohol. Two hundred and forty-eight (70%) were unintentional and 102(30%) were intentional deaths, and five (1%) were categorized as undetermined manner of death. Unintentional deaths decreased while the incidence of intentional deaths remained unaffected by time. CONCLUSIONS: Injury-reducing measures have been effective concerning unintentional deaths and the fall in young licenses drivers due to the economical recess have probably also contributed to the decrease. However, there were no signs of decreasing numbers of suicides during the study period, which calls for to be allocated to suicide prevention.
Problems in blood alcohol testing of severely injured drivers brought to emergency departments in Japan.
Akiko Higuchi, Rina Kurihara, Takashi Yoshimoto, Toshiyuki Sano, Kazuo Katsumata Akira Ishii and Yoshinao Katsumata
Legal med 2005; 7(5): 299-305.
Abstract
Breath alcohol tests are widely used to control DUI (driving under the influence) in Japan. However, this test is; not applied to injured drivers transported to emergency hospitals. In such cases, BAC (blood alcohol concentration) testing should be done to prove DUI. In this paper, we tried to clarify two important issues on the BAC testing in Japan using a questionnaire survey and experiments about contamination of antiseptic ethanol. First, we have described the doctor’s dilemma with DUI cases; our present questionnaire survey showed that the police often request the doctor to volunteer blood samples of the suspected drunk drivers brought to emergency hospitals since they have not been granted; the right to order blood sampling in Japan. Then, doctors face a serious dilemma whether comply with the police request or not, resulting in widely different responses. Secondly, we have estimated the effects of antiseptic ethanol routinely used as a dermal antiseptic on the BAC tests. Our present experiments showed that uptake of ethanol can occur under certain conditions. Given the actual conditions outlined in the questionnaire, there seem to be a definite risk of ethanol contamination in BAC testing. Obviously, the time has come to discuss problem is in BAC testing of injured drivers brought to emergency hospitals; in Japan
Legal perceptions of forensic DNA profiling
Simon J. Walsh
Forensic Sci Intern 2005; 155(1): 51-60
Abstract
A forensic biologist is usually involved in the criminal justice system process somewhere between the police and the legal system, interacting in a practical context regularly and extensively with both. Forensic DNA research and development commonly involves initiatives that encroach into the neighboring domains of the law enforcement or legal agencies. Despite this level of association, establishing meaningful cross-disciplinary communication and understanding within the justice system remains a challenge. As an example, there is an abundance of literature relating to forensic DNA profiling in legal and criminological periodicals. Such journals are perhaps outside the regular reading of forensic scientists and much of the legal discussion appears to go unnoticed. This situation is understandable; however, it is also undesirable particularly as forensic DNA developments are intertwined with significant changes in legislation and contentious issues of privacy, civil liberty and social justice. This paper attempts to address this shortcoming directly by summarizing-from the viewpoint of a forensic scientist- some of the discussion in the legal literature. In particular the review focuses on discussion raising ideological and ethical concerns. Awareness of these views is of relevance to forensic science. It assists us to accurately place DNA evidence into context and to develop its role in achieving the broader criminal justice system objectives. Understanding the discussion also provide a way to enter the debate and communicate at an appropriate level the true potential of DNA to the legal community.