Drowning
Date
2023
Authors
Stephenson, L.
Byard, R.
Editors
Payne-James, J.
Byard, R.
Byard, R.
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Book chapter
Citation
Forensic and Legal Medicine - Clinical and Pathological Aspects, 2023 / Payne-James, J., Byard, R. (ed./s), Ch.33, pp.277-286
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Lilli Stephenson and Roger W. Byard
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Abstract
Immersion in water results in a significant number of deaths worldwide every year. Controversy exists in the literature as to definitions of drowning. In the forensic setting, problems continually arise in establishing the cause and manner of death. Complex death scenes extending over many kilometers, nonspecific autopsy findings and lack of reliable diagnostic tests are all potential medicolegal issues. Putrefaction due to prolonged post-mortem intervals coupled with post-mortem injuries, including animal predation, may also complicate the assessment of possible trauma. Determining whether an individual was alive or dead before entering the water is often a key question and the contribution of underlying organic disease to the fatal episode may be difficult to ascertain, as disease may have either caused death, contributed to a fall into water or instead may merely have predisposed to drowning. Genetic causes of cardiac arrhythmias associated with swimming will not be discernable at autopsy and concluding whether a death has been the result of an accident, suicide or homicide may just not be possible. Drowning represents one of the more problematic areas of forensic pathology.
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