Child and Adolescent Victims in Forensic Autopsy: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Authors: Sauvageau, Anny; Racette, Stéphanie

Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences, Volume 53, Number 3, May 2008 , pp. 699-702(4)

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Abstract:

Children of more than 3 years of age and adolescents have been largely overlooked in the forensic literature, especially the 4-9 age group. Thus, the present study was undertaken to address this particular issue of child and adolescent victims in forensic autopsies. On a 5-year period (2000-2004) in Quebec province (Canada), all forensic autopsy cases of children and adolescents from 4 to 19 years of age were retrospectively studied. A total of 223 cases of child and adolescent deaths (148 males, 75 females; 6.6% of all forensic autopsies) were reviewed. Age, gender, manner of death and cause of death were analyzed for all victims organized into three groups of age: 4-9, 10-14, and 15-19. Moreover, homicide cases (n = 54) are further analyzed in terms of method(s) used (firearm, sharp force, asphyxia, blunt force, intoxication). This 5-year retrospective study may contribute to a better understanding of typical deaths in the 4-19 group of age and therefore, bring a working basis for the forensic pathologist or medical examiner/coroner.

Keywords: forensic science; pathology; child death investigation; adolescent death investigation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00695.x

Affiliations: 1: Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale, Edifice Wilfrid-Derome, 1701, Parthenais Street, 12th floor, Montreal, QC, Canada H2K 3S7.

Publication date: 2008-05-01