It is all about the insects: a retrospective on 20 years of forensic entomology highlights the importance of insects in legal investigations

This study highlights the importance of insect evidence by evaluating 949 insect-associated cases, including 139 entomological reports, from 2001 to 2019 at the Institute of Legal Medicine Frankfurt/Germany. With a high number of cases in the summer months and a low number in the colder season, 78.5% of the bodies were found indoors, regardless of year or month. In more than 80% of the cases, where PMI information was available (n = 704), the presumed PMI ranged from 1 to 21 days, a period during which entomological evidence can provide a day-specific estimate of PMImin. In cases where insects have been identified to species level (n = 279), most bodies were infested by one or two species with a maximum of 10 different species. Overall, a total of 55 insect species were found. Information on biology, activity and distribution of the most abundant taxa is given and applied for 5 case histories estimating different PMImins of up to over 6 months. Despite proved importance and scientific development of forensic entomology, insects are still rarely considered as a tool in forensic case work. The main reasons are a lack of awareness and (too) late involvement of a forensic entomologist. Our work shows that forensic entomology is an independent discipline that requires specialist expertise.

The Taint of The Other: Prison Work as ‘Dirty Work’ In Australia

This article explores how prison staff in Australia view their work and how their work is viewed by others, by applying a theoretical framework of ‘dirty work’. ‘Dirty work’ is a social construction that refers to tasks that are ‘physically, socially or morally tainted’ ( Ashforth and Kreiner, 1999 ; Hughes, 1958 ) and this article will apply this concept to prison staff in Australia for the first time. The discussion is based on qualitative research in seven different Australian prisons, ranging from high to low security. The article illustrates how staff responds to working in a ‘dirty’ profession by reframing, refocusing, and recalibrating their daily work tasks; how the staff uniform can be utilised as a status shield and protector from taint; and how the stigma of ‘dirtiness’ tends to foster strong occupational and workgroup cultures which in turn makes cultural change of a profession difficult. The consequences of the dirty work stigma for staff and prisoners are discussed, with a focus on informal interactions, case work and dynamic security.

Tele-Case Work Consultation to Woman Survivor of Domestic Violence During COVID 19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 have resulted in social isolation, reduced social support system, and increased domestic violence (DV) cases against women and children. The governments and NGOs have taken several measures to prevent DV by starting helpline, WhatsApp numbers, and counseling services during the lockdown to safeguard the women. This paper describes a case scenario of how we offered tele-case work consultation during the lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the procedure adopted, and preventive measures followed while providing a tailor-made psychosocial intervention to a DV survivor. It also discusses the strengths and challenges while offering tele-consultation and possible steps to overcome the technological barriers to mental health professionals.

Evolution of anatomic pathology workload from 2011 to 2019 assessed in a regional hospital laboratory via 574,093 pathology reports

Objective Quantify changes in workload in relation to the anatomic pathologist workforce. Methods In house pathology reports for cytology and surgical specimens from a regional hospital laboratory over a nine- year period (2011–2019) were analyzed, using custom computer code. Report length for the diagnosis+microscopic+synoptic report, number of blocks, billing classification (L86x codes), billings, national workload model (L4E 2018), regional workload model (W2Q), case count, and pathologist workforce in full-time equivalents (FTEs) were quantified. Randomly selected cases (n = 1,100) were audited to assess accuracy. Results The study period had 574,093 pathology reports that could be analyzed. The coding accuracy was estimated at 95%. From 2011 to 2019: cases/year decreased 6% (66,056 to 61,962), blocks/year increased 20% (236,197 to 283,751), L4E workload units increased 23% (165,276 to 203,894), W2Q workload units increased 21% (149,841 to 181,321), report lines increased 19% (606,862 to 723,175), workforce increased 1% (30.42 to 30.77 FTEs), billings increased 13% ($6,766,927 to $7,677,109). W2Q in relation to L4E underweights work in practices with large specimens by up to a factor of 2x. Conclusions Work by L4E for large specimens is underrated by W2Q. Reporting requirements and pathology work-up have increased workload per pathology case. Work overall has increased significantly without a commensurate workforce increase. The significant practice changes in the pathology work environment should prompt local investment in the anatomic pathology workforce.

10. Private Law Decisions about Children

Parents and caregivers are constantly making decisions about the upbringing of children in their care. This chapter looks at how courts go about doing what is best for the child or children in question in any given case. It considers examples of case work and common types of application that come before the court. In particular, it looks at applications about where a child should live and when they should spend time with a non-resident parent. The chapter ends by looking at cases involving relocation across jurisdictions and child abduction.

The Pedagogic Possibilities of Student-Generated Case Studies

In management and other business-related studies, case studies have become popular and ubiquitous. Case studies certainly provide significant opportunities for learners and instructors; however, the possibilities of case studies are often not fully utilized. Under-utilization of the case study becomes particularly apparent when students generate their own cases, which are often narrowly focused and constrained by a logic that understands the case as simply an exemplification of existing theory. This chapter advocates that undergraduate exposure to case work should be more expansive, incorporate greater complexity, and explore the possibilities of critically challenging old theories and of generating new ones. It is argued that this teaching approach gives learners a richer appreciation of the case study, introduces them to the challenges and methodology of case construction, and provides them with greater competency in using and in generating case studies in their learning and professional lives.

Social work for the elderly. Case work method in support of elderly patients with oncological diseases

Professional support for elderly people requires preparation to provide assistance in the face of a health loss, including oncological diseases, the risk of which increases especially at this stage of human development. A social worker asked to help a person who is struggling with an oncological disease needs to have a broad psychological, sociological and pedagogical knowledge. Working by applying the individual case method, a social worker focuses their support actions on a direct impact on the person and their social environment. Generally speaking, the purpose of the case work method is to strengthen the individual, raising their energy and internal abilities through a consciously directed process of individual work with the person, and (if the situation requires it) to extend the support by organising additional help from the specialised institutions , appropriate for solving a given problem. The theoretical background for the effective implementation of the case work method at the stage of diagnosis, then preparation of an assistance plan and implementation of planned intervention activities in the area of assistance to the elderly patients with an oncological disease, may be the concept of A. Maslow. It turns out that the usefulness of this theoretical concept has been repeatedly verified in practice, in processes of identifying the needs of seniors and planning interventions by social workers when dealing with the extremely difficult experience of an oncological disease in late adulthood. The advantage of the theoretical background discussed is that it indicates specific areas of biopsychosocial functioning, which requires concentration and diagnostic sensitivity of social workers in contact with a senior person that goes beyond the standard assessment of the client needs. The aim of this article is to bring closer the theoretical basis for diagnostic and intervention actions that can be undertaken by a social worker providing support to the seniors submitted to oncological treatment.