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The purpose of this paper is to formulate recommendations for the disclosure of biological traces in the laboratory and the handling of forensic evidence submitted for identification tests, recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics. The paper organizes the knowledge of the most relevant stages of preliminary analysis of biological traces based on both literature sources and those resulting from years of research practice. Recommendations formulated in the course of multi-stage expert consultations contained in this study should be used in the development of laboratory procedures applied during the execution.

The purpose of this paper is to formulate recommendations for the disclosure of biological traces in the laboratory and the handling of forensic evidence submitted for identification tests, recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics. The paper organizes the knowledge of the most relevant stages of preliminary analysis of biological traces based on both literature sources and those resulting from years of research practice. Recommendations formulated in the course of multi-stage expert consultations contained in this study should be used in the development of laboratory procedures applied during the execution.

Teresiński in his studies, both older ones, published in 2013 [1, 2] and the recent one from 2019 [3] as a follow-up to the earlier studies, discusses “acceleration” as a criterion of selective verification of the sequelae of whiplash injury. In principle, the approach outlined in the cited studies is correct, but it lacks an explicit definition of what precisely is meant by “acceleration”. In the 2013 papers, the author failed to give any indication as to what type of “acceleration” was discussed, while in his latest publication he stated that “acceleration” referred to the “acceleration of the centre of gravity of the vehicle in which the victim was travelling”, which is also an insufficiently precise definition. More detailed information on the topic can be found in the paper by Kędzierski [4], written from the perspective of an engineer and complementary to Teresiński’s study [3], which was published in the same issue of Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, but the aspect is not highlighted enough among the abundance of information presented there.

Introduction. The development of pneumatic shooting has led to the construction of technologically advanced devices with discharge energies similar to those of firearms. The pneumatic weapons ammunition market offers a variety of shot which varies in penetration properties and the extent of gunshot damage. In view of the ease of „tuning” of air rifles, a study was conducted of the inlet damage to the anterior femoral surface after pneumatic gunshots. The paper shows the differences in damage parameters depending on the type of shot. Material and methods. In the study, Air Arms Hi-Power Xtra FAC cal. 5.5 mm and FX Bobcat Mk II cal. 6.35 mm pneumatic carbines were used and lead shot by Haendler&Natterman’s Spitzkugel type, Hollow Point and Baracuda cal. 5.5 mm and 6.35 mm, as well as lead-free shot Excite Apollo cal. 5.5 mm and Black Max Lead-Free cal. 6.35 mm. Measurements were taken of the extent of inlet damage to the anterior surface of the femoral shaft with X-ray and CT imaging. Results. HollowPoint shot caused the greatest range of gunshot penetration damage in both bone and periosteum, Apollo lead-free shot caused the least. At the same time, HollowPoint shot showed the greatest susceptibility to ricocheting. Conclusions: 1. The type of shot used influences diversified morphology of the holes and the nature of gunshot damage to the femoral shaft. The differences concern both the gunshot holes and the nature, course and extent of associated fractures. 2. The smallest inlet holes and damage to the periosteum with a regular shape are caused by gunshots with pointed and pointed tip pellets. The greatest extent of bone and periosteum inlet damage was observed in gunshots with Hollow Point type shot due to its predisposition to deformation and fragmentation. 3. Radio-imaging studies are a valuable complement to macroscopic visual assessment providing a useful value for identifying the type of shot used.

This paper presents the results of genetic testing in two cases of shared paternity between half-siblings. In the first example, the research was based on the analysis of half-siblings and their mothers with respect to 21 autosomal markers. In the second, the research was based on both the analysis of 30 autosomal markers and X chromosome markers in putative sisters and the mother of one of them. Selected examples are presented to illustrate how the use of different research strategies affects the outcome of the likelihood ratio and the ability to make inferences in complex kinship cases.

The aim of the study was to determine the components of measurement uncertainty in the concentration of alcohol in exhaled breath and to determine the state of sobriety at the time of incident. Based on the literature review and the authors’ experience in providing opinions for law enforcement and the judiciary, the influence of various factors on the final interpretation of sobriety state is described on the basis of measurement uncertainty of breath analyzers, uncertainty of retrospective and prospective calculations, and uncertainty related to the conversion of alcohol concentrations detected during breath and blood tests. The paper pays particular attention to interpreting the concentrations of ethanol in exhaled breath close to the legal limits of the state of sobriety and the state after alcohol use, or the state after alcohol use and the state of insobriety. Analyzing the results of an exhaled breath test concerning concentrations close to the values of 0.1 mg/dm3 and 0.25 mg/dm3, it is necessary to take into account the factors affecting the measurements obtained, including the measurement uncertainty of the determination of alcohol in exhaled breath, the processes of absorption, distribution and metabolism of ethyl alcohol, and the possibility of the presence of alcohol lingering in the oral cavity. The incorrect execution of measurements of the tested person’s alcohol concentration is also a problematic issue. When determining sobriety state by means of retrospective and prospective calculations, it is important to remember that the uncertainty of the result is affected by a number of factors and depends, among other things, on the information provided by the suspect. Hence, the expert should draw conclusions particularly cautiously and any overestimation or underestimation of the components of uncertainty can lead to erroneous conclusions. Awareness of the uncertainties inherent in the results of a sobriety test or alcohol calculation allows for meaningful interpretation of test results and determination of the sobriety state of the person tested.

Post-mortem computer tomography (PMCT) is an imaging technique that is gaining popularity both worldwide and in Poland. It provides certain benefits in death investigation that a conventional autopsy is not able to, however, it has significant limitations. As PMCT and post-mortem computed angiography (PMCTA) continue to develop in this country, it is critical to become aware what people know and think about these imaging techniques, especially the prosecutors who officially order such examinations to be performed. In 2019, two concurrent surveys were administered to Polish prosecutors and general Polish population, respectively, regarding their current knowledge and opinions on PMCT. The results were collected both online and on paper, and then subjected to analysis. In total, 92 prosecutors and 227 non-prosecutors responded to the survey. The present authors observed that while prosecutors were more likely to have heard of this examination than the general public, their knowledge was often inadequate or incorrect. Conventional autopsy was still held as the gold standard in death investigation. However, a good popular sentiment towards PMCT was shown, and a desire to learn more about it – not just among prosecutors, but among the general public as well. The present authors’ recommendation is that more courses and training should be organised for Polish prosecutors to compensate this knowledge gap.

This paper, as the third of the series, is devoted to gauge ammunition, which may be a problem in ballistic opinions. The paper reviews existing cartridges of the type used in smoothbore weapons (bullet cartridges, non-penetrating, compressed powder, flash-bang, signal, adapter-type, and training cartridges). The paper also presents homemade special cases of gauge ammunition, as well as ammunition used for “peculiar” purposes. The second part of the paper discusses other uses of specialty gauge ammunition, specifically its use as mortar ammunition, propelling charges, pyrotechnic tools, and to start combustion engines.

The presented paper illustrates the significance of dental documentation which played a key role in the process of identification of two unknown male cadavers by means of dental features examination. Efficient operations of the district prosecutor’s office, which in both cases provided ante mortem dental documentation of a missing person likely to be the victim, led to double positive identification. In the first presented case dental examination proved to be more effective than genetics and contributed to closure of the identification procedures. In the second case it confirmed identity equally with genetics. In addition, the paper discusses the basic rules of medical records handling and storage.

Genetic markers for the prediction of biogeographical ancestry have proved to be effective tools for law enforcement agencies for many years now. In this study, we attempted to assess the potential of insertion-deletion markers (InDel) and microsatellites (STRs) as subsidiary polymorphisms for inference of Slavic population ancestry. For that purpose, we genotyped Slavic-speaking populations samples from Belarus, the Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia in 46 InDels and 15 STRs by PCR and capillary electrophoresis and analyzed for between-population differentiation with the use of distance-based methods (FST, principal component analysis and multidimensional scaling). Additionally, we studied a sample from a Polish individual of well-documented genealogy whose biogeographic ancestry had previously been inferred by commercial genomic services using autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), mitochondrial DNA and Y-SNP markers. For comparative purposes, we used genotype data collected in the “forInDel” browser and allele frequencies from previously published papers. The results obtained for InDels and STRs show that the Slavic populations constitute a genetically homogeneous group, with the exception of the Czechs differing clearly from the other tested populations. The analysis of the known Polish sample in the Snipper application proves the usefulness of the InDel markers on the continental level only. Conversely, microsatellites not only improve prediction, but are also informative if considered as an independent set of ancestry markers.

Donor DNA profiling can serve at least two purposes: 1) to enhance the evidential value of DNA deposited on garments/ items and 2) to provide valuable tactical information during crime scene investigation. In this review, different types of methods for the recovery of the contact DNA traces have been summarized. Additionally, with the available techniques, the unique characteristics and limitations thereof have been overviewed. The aim of this paper is to review the techniques of touch traces collection.

Aim: Bendiocarb is used against a wide range of insects but has already been withdrawn from the market in some countries. It poses a high risk to birds as they can accidentally ingest it while searching for food, followed by toxic effects. This paper presents the results of toxicological and histopathological studies of 48 cases of intentional birds of prey poisoning with bendiocarb in Eastern Europe, specifically Poland. Materials and methods: A novel ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for bendiocarb determination in animal liver samples was developed and fully validated. The sample preparation technique was based on one-step precipitation of proteins with cold acetonitrile. The internal standard used was carbaryl-d7. Full time of analysis was less than 10 minutes. The application of the UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method allowed us to achieve the lowest LOQ (1 ng/g) of bendiocarb in biological samples to date. Results: Necropsies and histopathological examinations of common ravens (Corvus corax), western marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus), red kites (Milvus milvus), and a white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) revealed multi-organ toxicity manifested as congestion, oedema, or stagnation of blood. An analytical investigation confirmed the presence of bendiocarb in liver in the 1808–7721 ng/g range. Furthermore, the presence of this compound was qualitatively confirmed in the stomach and beak contents and also in the bait located near the deceased animals. Conclusions: A comprehensive forensic examination is crucial to monitor wildlife fatalities, especially applying a combined analytical and histopathological approach to identify and eliminate highly toxic substances which pose a threat to the ecosystem.

The available literature on traces characterised by a suboptimal amount of DNA, as well as expert research practice, show the complex nature of LT-DNA traces: from their detection and collection, through genetic analysis, up to the interpretation of final results. The aims of this paper are to systematise the current state of knowledge on handling LT-DNA traces and develop examination guidelines, as recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG-PL). The proposed guidelines should be followed by all Polish laboratories conducting forensic genetic analyses for the purpose of judicial proceedings.

The paper discusses the gauge ammunition used in shooting sports, dedicated for Olympic and non-Olympic shooting disciplines. The following disciplines are addressed: trap, skeet, parcour, shooting animal silhouette targets (stationary or moving) and western competition. Ammunition used in these disciplines, especially produced in Poland, is discussed as well.

The paper presents a rare case of injury to the brachiocephalic trunk wall during percutaneous tracheotomy. The complication developed in a post-cardiac arrest patient in a poor general condition. During hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit, the patient suffered a haemorrhage directly from and around the endotracheal tube. After another episode of massive bleeding the patient died. The autopsy found that the source of the bleeding was injury to the brachiocephalic trunk.

The article investigates the characteristics and forms of cooperation between criminal investigation officers* and forensic laboratory specialists in pre-trial proceedings, as well as practical problems in such cooperation. Recently there have been a number of particularly heated debates about the relationship between determining a person possessing special knowledge and his/her status in pre-trial proceedings. Other discussed aspects include cooperation between entities involved in pre-trial proceedings in international contexts. A less intensive (albeit equally important) discussion relates to the form and characteristics of cooperation between criminal investigation officers on the one hand and specialists and experts on the other in investigating criminal acts. Bearing in mind the high practical importance and the existing differences in scholarly approaches to these issues, the current study concentrates on the forms and content of cooperation between law enforcement officers and specialists (experts) from forensic laboratories, as well as on problems resulting from such cooperation and directions for improvement. The first part of the article presents selected views on the definition of a person possessing special knowledge currently used in Lithuania** and in a number of other states. In the authors’ opinion, unification (harmonization) of various notions (definitions), terms and statuses of an expert, a specialist and special knowledge should be one of the objectives in implementing the vision of the joint European forensic science area 2020. Achieving this objective requires a comprehensive analysis of standards in law and management in using special knowledge of each state***. The second part, supported by empirical study results, discusses practical problems of cooperation between a law enforcement officer and a specialist (expert), analyzes three basic forms of their cooperation and presents the content of those forms: activities at the crime scene, cooperation of the two entities in commissioning tests, preparing test materials and actual performance of such tests, and finally participation of a specialist in other pre-trial activities. This part of the paper also proposes methods of improving the efficiency of such cooperation. The third part is based on an evaluation of the study results and presents the authors’ observations regarding the tendency of improving the efficiency of cooperation between law enforcement officers and specialists (experts).

Hunting shot are 1.2–10 mm diameter balls, usually made of lead alloys, forming a cluster projectile used in smoothbore hunting shotguns. Shot may also be used in pistol and revolver ammunition, in which it can constitute structural element of the projectile. Shot pellets may also be made of other materials and have other shapes. The aim of this paper is to aggregate information on the topic available from a number of different sources. It is hoped that such information will be useful for forensic ballistics experts. Historical development of pellets and their manufacturing technology from the 15th century is presented.

The purpose of this paper is to verify adherence to forensic examination principles in homicide cases by analyzing the results of the author’s own study of 90 court and prosecution cases from the period 2000–2010. The analyzed cases were sampled using the so-called multi-stage cluster sampling method, commonly used in social sciences in Poland. The cases were held in 17 organizational judiciary and prosecution units reporting to the Court of Appeal in Krakow and Appellate Prosecutor’s Office in Krakow, respectively. The research tool was a questionnaire containing 40 relevant guidelines, covering both qualitative and quantitative features. In the 90 analyzed cases, a total of 251 forensic examination reports were prepared, including 110 site examination reports, 20 separate corpse examination reports, 29 personal examination reports and 92 object examination reports. The research aspects of forensic examinations will be analyzed from the perspective of adherence to the principles of conducting the same. As regards postulates de lege ferenda with respect to the implementation of forensic examination principles one should emphasize the need for using the appropriate form of description of corpse examination; the need for a more responsible attitude towards sealing off crime scenes and for recording information on sealing-off procedures in the examination report; the need for clear distinction of examination stages in drafting the examination report; the need for a detailed analysis of the examination carried out at its final stage at all times; the need for using professional vocabulary in all descriptions of examination activities in each case and the need for regular monitoring (by the person in charge of examination) also with regard to the tactical requirement to sign each sheet of the examination report. The tactical and procedural development of forensic examination principles, taking into account also the postulates de lege ferenda presented herein, will contribute to further development of forensic examination studies and will thus make examination a more common practice in criminal procedures.

Myocardial infarction is an infrequent condition in young adults. In most cases, it occurs due to causes other than atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, including blood hypercoagulability, congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, their inflammation or spasm induced by amphetamine or cocaine use. Amphetamine and its derivatives, via increasing the levels of epinephrine, serotonin and dopamine in the central nervous system, exert their effect also on the cardiovascular system, causing coronary spasm, enhancing platelet aggregation and inducing tachyarrhythmias. The paper presents a case of a 42-year-old man admitted to the emergency department because of emaciation and dehydration. The man was conscious, without contact, with a significant elevation of body temperature and tachycardia. On the basis of examinations, a fresh infarction of the anterolateral wall of the heart was diagnosed and the patient was transferred to a cardiac intensive care unit. There, laboratory tests revealed significantly elevated markers of myocardial necrosis and the presence of amphetamine in blood and urine. In spite of the institution of treatment the patient developed cardiorespiratory arrest. Advanced resuscitation procedures were undertaken, however, they proved unsuccessful. The presence of an infarction focus was confirmed in autopsy. Toxicological analysis of the blood for the presence of alcohol-like substances detected amphetamine at a concentration of 269.5 ng/ml. After examining the complete body of evidence it was established that the patient had died of acute cardiorespiratory failure secondary to an extensive fresh myocardial infarction. As indicated by the accumulated data, the most probable cause of myocardial infarction was amphetamine poisoning.

The paper presents the cases of five patients who developed complications after aesthetic medicine procedures. Four of the cases involved women who reported to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, for a description and legal qualification of bodily injuries suffered as a result of aesthetic medicine procedures, whereas one was related to the assessment of accuracy of medical management at the request of the prosecutor handling the case. The reported cases concerned acid exfoliation treatments, photoepilation and cryotherapy. The authors attempt to discuss the most common complications that may occur after aesthetic medicine procedures, and measures to avoid them.

The paper presents the case of a 25-year-old woman who underwent cesarean section for gynecological indications in the 37th week of her second pregnancy. The perioperative course was uncomplicated, but one day later the general condition of the patient suddenly deteriorated: she developed respiratory disorders requiring intubation and treatment in an intensive care unit. On the 6th day after the surgery, the patient was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Appropriate conservative treatment was instituted, resulting in a gradual improvement of her condition. On the 13th postoperative day, a cardiac arrest in asystole occurred, with no response to the undertaken resuscitation procedures. An autopsy performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine in Łódź revealed, among other findings, acute pancreatitis with enzymatic necrosis of the adipose tissue, a significant accumulation of lymph in both pleural cavities, and pulmonary atelectasis. As demonstrated by the analysis of the case, chylothorax had most probably developed in the course of acute pancreatitis which was a complication of the cesarean section. Consequently, the prosecutor opened an investigation into the case under Article 155 of the Polish Penal Code to assess the appropriateness of medical management. The medico-legal opinion was issued by experts from outside the Department of Forensic Medicine in Łódź. In their view, the medical management of the patient was correct.

In the forensic medicine, objective and, if possible, the most accurate determination of the age – the time of the brain contusion, has practical significance. In our previous work, we discussed the importance of the neuron cytoskeleton proteins – neurofilaments, in this area. The purpose of this paper is to present the possibilities of using the phenomenon of angiogenesis in the brain contusions, to determine its age, on the basis of previous studies in animal models and in human biological material. The current review of the literature showed no conclusive data that would allow use morphological changes in angiogenesis to determine the age of the brain contusion in forensic medical practice. For these reasons, it is reasonable to take a broader research on the human material.

The aim of the paper is to discuss the role of respiratory failure caused by endogenous (both structural and functional) abnormalities in the central nervous system and exogenous food-derived opioid-like peptides in the pathogenesis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). By stimulating μ-opioid receptors, opioid-like peptides may suppress the tonic activity of the respiratory centre in the brain stem.

Aim of the study: The paper addresses the use of dental age assessment methods based on radiographs in medico-legal practice. Different cases of practical application of the methods are presented including identification of human remains, dental age assessment in a living person and one archaeological case. Material and methods : The study material consisted of cases involving dental age assessment performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poznan. Depending on the preliminary assessment of age, the Liversidge or the Kvaal et al. methods were applied. Dental age was estimated on the basis of available pantomograms. In the case of the living person, it was a radiograph supplied for expert evaluation. In the other cases, dental computed tomography was performed. Results : Dental age was successfully estimated in all of the cases. Various methods based on the analysis of X-ray images were applied. Dental age was shown to be correlated with skeletal age. Conclusions : The methods based on radiographs were demonstrated to be useful, and the results they yield are fully correlated with results of anthropological analyses.

Helium is one of inert gases causing physical asphyxiation, whose excess content in the breathing atmosphere reduces the partial pressure of oxygen and may be fatal after short-term exposure. When breathing a mixture of an inert gas (helium, nitrogen, argon) with a small amount of oxygen, with the possibility of exhaling carbon dioxide, no warning signs characteristic of suffocation are perceived by the subject. Freedom from discomfort and pain, effectiveness, rapid effect and relatively easy availability of required accessories have resulted in the use of inert gases for suicidal purposes. The paper reports two cases of suicide committed by using a special kit consisting of the so-called “suicide bag” (or “exit bag”) filled with helium supplied through a plastic tube. In both cases, examination of the sites where the corpses were found and analysis of collected material allowed to establish that before their death the subjects had searched the Internet for instructions on how to commit suicide using helium. Due to the advanced putrefaction process, the autopsies failed to determine the causes of their death unequivocally. However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths suggested rapid asphyxiation as a result of oxygen deficiency in the breathing mixture. Since in cases of the type discussed here the cause of death cannot generally be established by autopsy, knowledge of the circumstances of disclosure of the corpse, as well as examination of the cadaver and the death scene is of utmost importance.

Nails and hair are a biological matrix which can be analyzed to confirm the use of a xenobiotic even several months after intake. Results of nail analysis can be used, for example, as evidence in civil and criminal law cases in which a history of drug use can influence the court’s decision. The paper presents results of analysis of a nail sample taken from a man who was suspected of trafficking cocaine. The suspect pleaded guilty to the possession of the drug for his own use because, as he claimed, he was addicted to cocaine. A nail sample was taken. Detection and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The concentration of cocaine in nails was found to be 47 ng/mg, and benzoylecgonine – 14 ng/mg.

The paper discusses the case of death of a 56-year-old man who died in a municipal hospital from which his body was taken to the Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow. The man was said to have been found unconscious by accidental passers-by. While being transported to the hospital’s emergency department, he suffered an attack of convulsions and went into cardiac arrest. He was subsequently successfully resuscitated. A physical examination performed at the hospital revealed the presence of multiple, only slightly dissolved tablets in the man’s rectum. The patient died on the 25th day of hospitalization. A toxicological analysis showed a toxic concentration of theophylline (25 mg/l) in the man’s blood. Theophylline was identified as the main ingredient of the tablets. The cause of death was thus given as theophylline poisoning. The reported case is unusual in that the poisoning occurred as a result of overdosing on an oral drug which was administered by the victim rectally, and in that the chosen substance currently is not very commonly used in medicine, and does not cause symptoms of intoxication.

The subject of the work included 41 cases of death in which amphetamine was involved as the direct or indirect cause. Identification and determination of xenobiotics in blood samples collected from post-mortem cases were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation (HPLC-ESI-MS-MS). Only for two cases was the cause of death amphetamine poisoning. In most of the investigated cases the death was caused by poisoning due to complex amphetamine and other psychoactive substances (e.g. opiates, benzodiazepines, cocaine). In other cases, multi-organ damage (fall from a height, traffic accident), a puncture wound and wound incised, drowning, or asphyxiation by hanging were reported. It can be explained as risky, murderous, or suicidal actions of people who were under the influence of amphetamines. The presented paper focuses on the interpretation of amphetamine concentration in blood samples from the perspective of direct or indirect cause of death.

The investigation of motivation of suicidal behaviour in cases of so-called extended suicide is of great importance from a forensic-psychological viewpoint. The initiator of such action is often a person suffering from endogenous depression. The motives behind successful suicide are generally not known. This paper aims to demonstrate the motives behind the successful suicide, less frequent in our conditions, of two family members – a father and a son. The case has been thoroughly analysed by morphological methods with the help of additional laboratory tests. At the centre was a suicide letter which was hidden in a very unusual way and which was elucidated only thanks to autopsy of both persons. The manner of realisation – hanging – was among the most frequent in the region and in the state too. The men were not under the influence of any toxic substances. The motivation behind the suicide was an escape from hard living conditions.

The paper presents two case reports of living victims, in which imaging studies of the chest conducted at a medical facility were an essential part of the medico-legal opinion. The first case was that of a young male hospitalized due to CT evidence of bilateral rib fractions, who claimed to have been assaulted by police officers. The other case was that of a six week old baby hospitalized due to chest X-ray evidence of right hand side rib fractions. The chest X-ray was performed due to one bruise found on the baby’s forehead and two small bruises on the back, which gave rise to suspicions of child abuse. In both cases, expert witnesses in radiology definitively excluded the presence of any fractures. These cases indicate that a new assessment of imaging studies contained in medical records is needed. Expert opinions based solely on the description of imaging studies may result in grave consequences.

Background: PMCT is a well-known tool of the forensic pathologist. It is employed worldwide. PMCT-angiography offers additional insights. This paper intends to demonstrate possibilities of both methods after cardiac surgery. Material and Methods: Exemplary cases with typical findings were selected from our own collection. PMCT was performed as whole body CT (1mm slice, pitch 1.5, 130kV, 180-130mAs, 16 slice MDCT). In PMCT-angiography, contrast material (1.2 litres) is injected into the arteries (arterial phase, also documented with a whole body CT). Thereafter, contrast material is injected into the veins (venous phase, also documented with a whole body CT). The final CT is obtained after circulation has been provoked with a special pump (circulatory phase). Results: PMCT visualised pseudoarthrosis and fractures of the sternum, implanted valves (TAVI) encroaching the ostia of the coronary arteries, bleeding and pericardial tamponade. PMCT-angiography showed the sources of the bleeding, vascular stenosis and obstruction and modified vascular supply. With respect to the postoperative care, malposition of tubes, drainages and complication of punctures could be seen. Conclusion: PMCT and PMCT-angiography can visualise complications and the cause of death. Such knowledge may allow for prevention of suffering and death. It may also aid in improving valve design and implantation procedures.

The paper describes a fatal case of accidental ingestion of a mixture of hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid. The man was admitted to hospital, where appropriate treatment, adequate to his condition, was instituted. Numerous ventricular fibrillation episodes, for which the patient was defibrillated repeatedly, were observed during the period of hospitalization. The patient was in a critical condition, with progressive symptoms of hypovolemic shock and multiorgan failure. On the next day after admission, signs of electromechanical dissociation progressing to asystole were noted. The instituted resuscitation procedure proved ineffective and the patient died. Autopsy revealed brownish discoloration of the esophageal, gastric, and small intestinal mucous membranes. Numerous ulcerations without signs of perforation were found both in the esophagus and in the stomach. The mucous membrane of the small intestine demonstrated focal rubefactions, whereas no focal lesions of the large intestinal mucosa were seen. Microscopic investigation of the biopsy specimens collected from the stomach, duodenum and small intestine revealed mucous membrane necrosis foci, reaching the deeper layers of the wall of these organs. The mucous membrane of the large intestine was congested. Bioptates obtained from the lungs indicated the presence of hemorrhagic infarcts and focal extravasations. Poisoning with the aforementioned acids with consequent necrosis of the esophageal, gastric, duodenal and small intestinal walls with hemorrhages to the gastrointestinal tract, as well as extravasations and hemorrhagic infarcts in the lungs was considered to be the cause of death.

Aim of the study : Deaths due to inappropriate functioning of the emergency medical services system, as recently described by Polish mass media, has drawn the attention of society to the activities of medical dispatchers. Legal regulations impose obligations on those persons associated with receiving phone calls and dispensing appropriate emergency medical teams. In this paper an analysis of chosen medicolegal opinions from the practice of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, towards malpractices committed by dispatchers of EMS, was performed. Material and methods: The authors analysed 12 of medicolegal opinions, issued from 2007 to 2012 by a team of experts. Results : The errors noted in the work of dispatchers consisted of delays in giving appropriate assistance due to the inability to properly converse, a propensity to downplay patients’ symptoms, and dispatchers crossing their own competences. Conclusions : The problem may be resolved by the subsidy of EMS, fine-tuning the algorithms for conduct, and proper education of both staff and public.

The aim of this paper is to determine the velocity, energy, maximum range and distance at which pellets fired from an air rifle of kinetic energy below 17 J can pose a threat to unprotected human skin. Doppler radar equipment and exterior ballistics software were used in this examination.