Custodial deaths seen in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Lagos, Nigeria: An 11-year autopsy study

Introduction Deaths in custody are a matter of global concern. However, such information is often missing in developing countries. This study aimed to examine retrospectively the profile, cause and manner of deaths amongst cases of custodial deaths in Lagos State, Nigeria. Method An 11-year study (June 2008–June 2019) was done of all autopsy cases of custodial deaths in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Variables including age, sex, offence, place of death, duration in custody prior to death and cause and manner of death were extracted from the records. Results were analysed using frequencies and percentages. Results Out of 9894 autopsies over the study period, 45 custodial deaths were identified. Males and females constituted 84.4% and 15.6%, respectively (M:F = 5.4:1). Ages ranged from 20 to 64 years, with a mean age of 37 ± 11.0 years. These deaths were most common in the third decade. Armed robbery and financial crime were the two leading reasons for arrest, while most deaths occurred within 24 hours of arrival in custody. The two leading causes of death were acute cardiac failure from hypertensive heart disease and cranio-cerebral injury from blunt-force trauma. Conclusion Deaths in custody need to be properly investigated and particular attention needs to be paid to unlawful deaths if and when they arise.

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The Right to Due Process in Challenging a Determination of Cause and Manner of Death: Giving the Family the Ability to Contest a Cause and Manner Decision by a Medical Examiner in Maryland

Academic Forensic Pathology ◽

10.23907/2015.043 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 396-401 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

David R. Fowler ◽

Bruce Goldfarb

Keyword(s):

Due Process ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Manner Of Death ◽

The Family ◽

The Right

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“Rust stain”: a rare mark in firearm suicide—a case report and review of the literature

International Journal of Legal Medicine ◽

10.1007/s00414-021-02607-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luca Tomassini ◽

Daniele Paolini ◽

Anna Maria Manta ◽

Edoardo Bottoni ◽

Costantino Ciallella

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Experimental Setting ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Histological Findings ◽

Porcine Skin ◽

Manner Of Death ◽

Prolonged Contact ◽

Firearm Suicide

AbstractRust stains are marks left by firearms in case of prolonged contact with the cutaneous surfaces. These peculiar signs along with other well-documented findings can guide the medical examiner in the determination of the manner of death, especially in case of firearm suicide. This paper presents the case of a 33-year-old male soldier who committed suicide by using a short-barreled weapon, whose trigger remained in contact with the first finger of his right hand, leading to the formation of a rust stain that perfectly reproduced its design. The forensic examination of the scene, the external cadaveric inspection, and the autopsy are described. For the evaluation of the histological findings typical of rust spots, the authors decided to replicate the phenomenon in an experimental setting using porcine skin. In order to provide an exhaustive overview on the formation and the features of rust stains, a review of the forensic literature concerning this rare mark was performed.

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Causes of death in a hospitalized geriatric population: An autopsy study of 3000 patients

Virchows Archiv A Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology ◽

10.1007/bf01607146 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 423 (5) ◽

pp. 343-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

William Mac Gee

Keyword(s):

Causes Of Death ◽

Autopsy Study ◽

Geriatric Population

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Racial differences in ventricular remodeling in hypertensive heart disease: an autopsy study

Journal of the American College of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/s0735-1097(98)80623-2 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 521-522

Author(s):

A. Misra ◽

S. Campbell ◽

V. Nadimpalli ◽

S. Sanee ◽

K.T. Weber

Keyword(s):

Heart Disease ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Ventricular Remodeling ◽

Hypertensive Heart Disease ◽

Autopsy Study

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Are "Accidental" Gun Deaths as Rare as They Seem? A Comparison of Medical Examiner Manner of Death Coding With an Intent-Based Classification Approach

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.111.4.741 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 111 (4) ◽

pp. 741-744 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J. Schaechter ◽

I. Duran ◽

J. De Marchena ◽

G. Lemard ◽

M. E. Villar

Keyword(s):

Medical Examiner ◽

Manner Of Death ◽

Classification Approach

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Firearm-Related Deaths in Multnomah County, Oregon, 2010-2016: Linking Medical Examiner Data to State Vital Records Data

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/0033354919893032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 135 (1) ◽

pp. 40-46

Author(s):

Jaime Walters

Keyword(s):

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Data Sets ◽

Data Systems ◽

Manner Of Death ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Multnomah County ◽

Routine Surveillance ◽

Vital Records

Objectives: Violence due to firearms is a substantial public health problem. Death data from medical examiner and vital records were linked to evaluate the use of medical examiner data to augment routine surveillance and determine any differences in sex, age, manner of death, or race and ethnicity between the 2 data systems. Materials and Methods: Medical examiner data were searched for keywords of interest, and vital records data were obtained and linked for deaths occurring in Multnomah County, Oregon, from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2016. Both data sets were compared for the number and proportion of firearm-related deaths by sex, age, manner of death, and race/ethnicity. Sensitivity and positive predictive values were calculated for variables that had discordant results. Results: A total of 568 firearm-related deaths were identified in the medical examiner data. After matching with manual review, the 2 data systems had 100% case agreement. A reverse match showed that most cases not found in medical examiner data were due to transfer of case jurisdiction. The 2 systems matched nearly perfectly in sex, age, and manner of death but differed in characterization of race and ethnicity. Sensitivity was 62% for Hispanic ethnicity but 93% for white and black race. Practice Implications: Using medical examiner data was a useful way to augment routine surveillance of firearm-related deaths in our jurisdiction in close to real time. However, caution is needed when analyzing data by subgroups because of discordant classifications of race between the data systems.

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Pattern of unnatural deaths among children: An autopsy study

Medico-Legal Journal ◽

10.1177/0025817216679353 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 90-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Praveen Athani ◽

Basappa S Hugar ◽

S Harish ◽

YP Girishchandra

Keyword(s):

Traffic Accidents ◽

Sexually Abused ◽

Road Traffic ◽

Academic Failure ◽

Age Group ◽

Road Traffic Accidents ◽

Sex Distribution ◽

Autopsy Study ◽

Manner Of Death ◽

Medical College

This study was conducted at the M. S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, between October 2007 and September 2009 to analyse the age and sex distribution of unnatural deaths in children, patterns and manner of death. Detailed information regarding the circumstances of death was sought from the relatives, friends and police. The scene of occurrence was visited, and photographs of the scene of occurrence were examined in relevant cases. Unnatural deaths in children constituted 6.62% of the total autopsies conducted. The majority of childhood deaths were in the age group of 15–18 years of both sexes constituting 46.88%. Males constituted 55.22% of cases. Suicide accounted for 40.63% of the cases. Most children committed suicide by hanging (82.05%). The main reason was academic failure and some of the cases were accidental (48.96%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 26.04% of the cases, where most children were pedestrians (56%). Drowning accounted for 15.63% of the cases. Most of the children drowned while playing near ponds (83.33%). Homicide accounted for 9.36% of the cases – either killed by their mother as part of a pedicide–suicide event or by the father, and in two cases the children were sexually abused before being killed.

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National Association of Medical Examiners Position Paper: Recommendations for the Definition, Investigation, Postmortem Examination, and Reporting of Deaths in Custody

Academic Forensic Pathology ◽

10.23907/2017.051 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 604-618

Author(s):

Roger A. Mitchell ◽

Francisco Diaz ◽

Gary A. Goldfogel ◽

Mark Fajardo ◽

Stephany E. Fiore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Justice System ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

National Association ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Forensic Pathologist ◽

Complex Issue ◽

The Public ◽

Release Of Information ◽

Medical Examiners ◽

Deaths In Custody

The National Association of Medical Examiners commissioned an ad hoc committee to provide recommendations for the investigation, examination, and reporting of deaths in custody. Deaths in custody, whether occuring in jail/prison or during an altercation with law enforcement, is a complex issue and requires the forensic pathologist to be knowledgable and deliberative about his/her diagnosis. This paper provides recommendations for the forensic pathologist as it relates to 1) categorization of deaths in custody, 2) critical information required during investigation, 3) enhanced autopsy procedures, 4) guidance on death certification, 5) parameters for statistical reporting, and 6) release of information to the public. A uniform approach by medical examiners and coroners to the investigation and evaluation of deaths in custody is critical. The establishment of recommendations has the potential to ensure consistency and reliability to the definition, investigation, and certification of these cases. Such uniformity and consistency will instill confidence in the independence of the medical examiner/forensic pathologist/coroner by the criminal justice system, public health system, and community at large.

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