Tips For Forensic Students Writing Their First Medicolegal Report

The role a medical examiner plays in the investigation of a mysterious, suspicious death is vital. When you become an medical examiner, you will be the official voice of the dead. Making sure you speak clearly for the deceased is extremely important to those people getting the justice and recognition they deserve. Making sure the world knows the reasons behind a suspicious death is a huge and important responsibility.

Keeping In Mind The Impact Of Time Of Death

While the stages of death are generally the same for most people, the factors surrounding a suspicious death can have a significant impact on the actual time of death. Making sure you take into account all of the details associated with the deceased time of death is essential for revealing clues that can point fingers to any possible perpetrators. Never leave out a tiny detail because you feel it is not relevant to the case. A homicide investigator may be able to use the tiniest detail to learn more about the deceased.

The Importance Of Recording Insect Activity

During the early stages of decomposition, the body puts off gases that are attractive to insects like flies. Insects and their activity around decomposing human bodies has been studied and the factors have made excellent forensic tools. Each stage of death points to a certain gas that attracts certain types of insects, meaning the insect activity at the time of discovery can help to pinpoint time of death. It is important to learn more about insects and their role to further your goal to pinpoint a time of death.

Being Specific About The Deceased

Simply recording the name and age of someone that has died suspiciously is never acceptable when it comes to a report intended for presentation in a court of law. You will need to record if the deceased was a prisoner. If the deceased is a child and there is no evidence of death by natural causes, special investigative procedures and related data should always be recorded in fine detail. If the deceased was a patient in a hospital or nursing home, it is vital you make sure to include it in your report, especially if bruises and skin lacerations are present. Every personal detail you can add can help investigators and other law professionals prove if someone was murdered and can help to find the murderer.

The role of a medical examiner is important, especially when it comes to speaking for those that can no longer speak for themselves. Proving the reason an innocent person died can mean a lot to that person's family and friends. When writing a medicolegal report, keeping your moral and logical instincts intact is a good idea.Avoid writing in your personal opinions and always stick to the facts. By doing so, you can be the voice that speaks louder and more clearly for those who cannot.