Peter Theilade

Death due to dextropropoxyphene: Copenhagen experiences

A review of 323 fatal poisonings with dextropropoxyphene is presented. The falling tendency of the poisoning in question and the National Board of Healths attention towards it are discussed.

Terminal ballistics of the 7.62 mm NATO bullet. Autopsy findings

SummaryThe 7.62 mm × 51 military rifle bullet (7.62 mm NATO) as manufactured in Denmark, and in some other countries as well, has been claimed to fragment when fired at ranges encountered in forensic practice. All autopsied cases of death due to this bullet in Denmark since 1975 were investigated by studying autopsy reports and the bullets retrieved by the police. With one exception, all bullets that were found in, or known to have passed through the body, had fragmented. This behaviour is assumed to be due to a lack of strength in the jacket causing it to break at the cannelure when hitting the target at high velocity. The fragments will increase the already sizeable lesions and may leave the body through several separate exit wounds, presenting problems, both for the surgeon treating survivors and for the forensic scientists when defining the direction of the shot. The legality of this and similar bullets in view of the Hague Declaration of 1899 may be questioned, and we feel that the bullet should be redesigned. A programme to this end has been initiated by the Danish state owned ammunition factory.ZusammenfassungDas 7,62 mm × 51 Geschoß für Militär-Gewehre, wie es in Dänemark und in einigen anderen Ländern hergestellt wird, soll sich zerlegen, wenn es aus Entfernungen abgefeuert wird, welche in der forensischen Praxis üblich sind. Alle autopsierten Todesfälle, die seit 1975 durch dieses Geschoß verursacht wurden, wurden durch eine Untersuchung der Autopsie-Berichte und der von der Polizei zurück bekommenen Geschosse überprüft. Die Geschosse, welche in den Leichen gefunden wurden bzw. welche den Körper passiert hatten, waren mit einer Ausnahme fragmentiert. Dieses ist vermutlich darauf zurückzuführen, daß es einen Mangel an Stärke im Geschoßmantel gibt, wodurch dieser bricht, wenn das Geschoß mit hoher Geschwindigkeit auf das Ziel trifft. Die Fragmente haben eine Vergrößerung der bereits beträchlichen Läsion zur Folge und können den Körper durch mehrere separate Ausgangswunden verlassen. Dies verursacht Probleme sowohl für den Chirurgen, der den Verletzten behandeln soll, als auch für den Rechtsmediziner, der die Schußrichtung feststellen soll. Auf dem Hintergrund der Haager Deklaration von 1899 müßte die Legalität dieser und ähnlicher Geschosse in Frage gestellt werden, und wir vertreten die Auffassung, daß dieses Geschoß umkonstruiert werden muß. Ein Programm mit dieser Zielsetzung wurde bei der dänischen staatlichen Munitionsfabrik begonnen.

The occurrence of HIV antibodies in drug addicts autopsied at the University Institute of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen in 1987

In 1987 a total of 89 intravenous drug addicts were admitted to medico-legal autopsy at the University Institute of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen. Totally 10 cases were reactive by the Elisa test and five of these, or 7% of the total material tested, could be confirmed by the immuno-blotting test. The other five cases must be considered as false positive, possibly due to antibodies against cellular antigens. Among the five real positive cases, four were known before-hand while in one case the HIV-positivity was not known. These findings - together with the possibility of false negative reactions - especially regarding persons with acute HIV-infection, requires special precautionary measures when autopsies of drug addicts are performed.

Fatal overdose of the herbicide bentazone.

A 59-year-old woman who intentionally ingested 100-200 ml Basagran was taken to the hospital with a cardiac arrest 2 days after she had consumed the herbicide. During this period she suffered vomiting, urination and diarrhoea and she was drowsy with a muddled speech. Biological samples obtained at the autopsy were analysed and presence of bentazone, alcohol and an active metabolite of citalopram were detected. Blood concentrations of bentazone, alcohol and desmethyl-citalopram were 625 mg/kg, 0.62 g/l and 0.03 mg/kg, respectively.

Prevalence of HIV-1-Antibodies in Drug Addicts Autopsied at The University Institute of Forensic Pathology in Copenhagen 1988-1991

In the period 1988-1991 the HIV-1 antibody test was performed in a total of 389 autopsied drug addicts. The HIV-1 incidence rose from 6% in 1988 to 14% in 1990 and 14% in 1991. There was no significant difference between the cumulated incidence in males and females. The HIV-1-positive addicts were compared to the HIV-1 negative addicts as regards mean age, duration of abuse, residence and cause and manner of death. Except for residence, where significantly more HIV-1-positive than negative addicts lived in Copenhagen, there were no significant differences between the two groups. In about one-third of the HIV-1-positive cases, equal both for males and females, the HIV-1-positivity was not known beforehand. The results are discussed in relation to the findings in other countries and to the findings in selected groups of living addicts in Copenhagen. It is concluded, that the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in autopsied drug addicts is important from epidemiologic and hygienic points of view.

Death caused by DF-2, following a dog-bite

The Gram-negative rod DF-2 was isolated from blood-cultures, the blood sample taken 3 days after death from a 65-year-old woman who had been bitten in her finger by her dog. At the medico-legal external examination marbling of the skin was found, suggesting septicemia. In persons found dead with a history of dog exposition and with no other obvious cause of death, examination for DF-2 should be performed.

HOMED-homicides eastern Denmark: an introduction to a forensic medical homicide database.

Background:An introduction to a forensic medical homicide database established at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen. Content: The database contains substantial clinical and demographic data obtained in conjunction with medico-legal autopsies of victims and forensic clinical examinations of perpetrators in homicide cases in eastern Denmark. Validity and coverage: The database contains information on all homicide cases investigated at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen since 1971. Coverage for the catchment area of the department is assumed to be very good because of a medico-legal homicide autopsy rate close to 100%. Regional differences might exist however, due to the fact that the catchment area of the department is dominated by the city of Copenhagen. Conclusions: The strength of the database includes a long running time, near complete regional coverage and an exhaustive list of registered variables. It is useful for research purposes, although specific data limitations apply.