Muhammet Mustafa Arslan

A series of civilian fatalities during the war in Syria

BACKGROUND A considerable number of deaths due to firearm injuries have occurred during wars all over the world. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics and injury properties of cases died during civil war in Syria. METHODS The postmortem examination and autopsy reports of 321 forensic deaths occurred between January and December 2012 were analyzed, retrospectively. Of the 321 forensic deaths,186 cases were injured and died in the civil war in Syria and, therefore, included in the scope of the study. Four cases died by natural causes or traffic accidents were excluded. RESULTS Cases were most commonly (n=73, 39.2%) aged between 21 and 30 years, and 21.5% (n=40) of cases aged under 20 years. Of females, 68.8% (n=11) were children and young adults under 20 years of age. An overwhelming majority of deaths (n=125, 67.2%) were caused by explosive and shrapnel injuries, followed by (n=49, 26.3%) gunshot injuries related deaths. CONCLUSION This study indicated that a significant proportion of those who died after being injured in the Syrian war were children, women and elderly people. The nature and localization of the observed injuries indicated open attacks by military forces regardless of targets being civilians and human rights violations.

Socio-demographic characteristics of juvenile delinquents in Turkey

In developing countries, juvenile delinquency and the involvement of children in crime is an important social problem. The bio-psycho-social factors leading to a crime, as well as the situation of individuals in society have become an increasingly important issue. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of socio-economic and -demographic characteristics of children involved in crime as suspects or victims. A questionnaire comprising questions concerning their socio-demographic characteristics and family status was administered to the participants. Of a total 351 cases, 245 (69.8%) were alleged offenders and 71 (20.2%) were victims of a crime. Most of them were male in the 16–18 age group, attending high school, involving in a crime for the first time, suffering from a substance-use disorder and have committed physical assaults and theft crimes. Obtained findings should be considered in developing strategies and implementing prevention policies in order to tackle juvenile delinquency. Besides the penalties given to children involved in a crime, educational and psychosocial support should also be provided.

Anogenital Verru and Sexual Abuse in Childhood Review

The presence of sexually transmitted diseases at anogenital region of children is an evidence of sexually abuse. Human papilloma virus (HPV) which affects 80% of adults is considered to be the most common sexually transmitted disease. The warts which were formed in children secondary to HPV, may be an indicator of sexual abuse. Following a review of the literature about the children with anogenital warts (AGW), we aimed at sharing the suggestions for the approach in this group of patients, from the forensic point of view.It has also been proved scientifically that HPV may be transmitted in some other ways else than sexual abuse. Therefore in children with AGW, the prejudicied consideration as having formed secondary to sexual abuse should be broken. Children and their families must not be misinformed in order to avoid the psychological stress of having formed secondary to sexual abuse. These cases should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary approach and may only be considered as a forensic case after having a clear judgement about way of sexually transmission.

An Interesting Suicide Method a Case Report

The aim of this study is to present a case who committed suicide by an incomplete hanging method. A woman, who was 80 years old with low-socioeconomic-status and living alone, was found dead at home. There was history of medicine usage for psychiatric problems. In crime scene investigation, there was blood trail in different parts of kitchen, room and courtyard and also a washtub with blood and a bread knife inside was found. The case was found hanged to the wall side metal of the stretcher with a woman sock. The distance between the knot and the ground was measured as 20cm. In external examination there was ligature mark on neck, numerous cutting wounds in anterior side of both wrists and posterior side of left wrist and hand. There were no trauma signs at body other than the ligature mark and the cutting wounds. It was understood that the case was died as a result of asphyxia due to hanging. We are presenting this case because she was carrying risk factors for suicide, usage of two different methods for suicide and strangeness of hanging method.Keywords: Suicide, Old age, Two different suicide method.