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Aim of the Study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of effects equivalent to moderate and severe impairment to health within the meaning of the Penal Code in patients with zygomatico-maxillo-orbital fractures and isolated orbital floor fractures. In addition, the study addressed the possibilities of applying the presented results in the preparation of medicolegal opinions in cases provided for in Articles 158 and 160 of the PC with respect to evaluating the plausibility of inflicting such bodily injuries and causing moderate and severe health impairment., Material and Methods: The study covered a total of 124 patients operated on in the then Clinic of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Academy of Lodz, in 1996-2001, because of fractures involving the inferior orbital wall including zygomatico-maxillo-orbital fractures (95 cases) and isolated orbital floor fractures (29 cases). The group was analyzed in a statistical and descriptive manner., Results: All the study patients (100%) with both types of fractures involving the inferior orbital wall exhibit symptoms and disorders which, pursuant to the PC, would constitute at least moderate, or possibly even severe, impairment to health., Conclusions: Punches or kicks to the orbital region create a real danger of causing both types of orbital fracture under study, and resulting in at least moderate health impairment.

Aim of the Study: The aim of the paper is analysis of the impact of immobilization treatment of "less severe" motor organ injuries affecting soft tissues on the position of medical experts and court decisions in crimes against health. We also analysed the attitude of courts to expert opinions and present a proposal for a model of judicial and medical opinion in such cases., Material and Methods: In the study, we analysed judgments of the criminal divisions of common courts, in which the use of medical immobilization of a given part of the body or lack thereof could have an impact on the degree of health impairment determined by the medical expert., Results: Some experts consider medical immobilization to be tantamount to an impairment of the function of a body organ, and the courts rarely reject such opinions. For some experts, the key is not the actual function of the immobilized part of the musculoskeletal system after 7 days from injury, but the immobilization treatment itself, and not the time it takes. In addition, experts determine the severity of injuries when immobilization is/is not used., Conclusions: The degree of health impairment, as defined in the Penal Code, should be determined by a medical check-up carried out 7 days after the injury, with an assessment of its "biological" effects, and not by the use of immobilization treatment and the time for which it is maintained.

The paper presents the case of an unexplained and the most mysterious death in the history of Polish Tatra tourism. It concerns three people of different ages and occurred on August 3, 1925 in the Valley of Jaworowa. Kazimierz Kasznica, his son Wacław Kasznica and a newly discovered mountaineer Ryszard Wasserberger died suddenly for unknown reasons in 15 minutes during a mountain trek. This story is interesting due to the mysterious, simultaneous death of three people of different ages and due to the fact that Waleria Kasznica - the wife of Kazimierz and the mother of Wacław Kasznica survived the journey. KEY WORDS.

The aim of this study was the comparison of causes of deaths of fetuses, neonates and infants based on the autopsy reports taken from the Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, in the years 2000-2010, and especially establishing what the most common causes of death occurred in this age group. We evaluated 94 autopsy reports of such children from this period. It turned out that the most frequent causes of death were pneumonia in neonates delivered at term and sepsis (usually due to hospital infection) in premature neonates. Other common causes of death were trauma and violent asphyxia (smothering, or choking or positional asphyxia).

The paper presents selected evident opinionating errors committed by experts in the field of forensic medicine who issued medico-legal opinions in criminal cases, aiming at determining causes of death. The authors analyze the causes of such errors and possibilities of avoiding them, as well as the impact of the said errors on the course of criminal proceedings and the legal position of the suspects or victims. The report emphasizes the potential effect of these opinions on the fate of individuals who have been found suspected or guilty based on such opinions should they be accepted by the court without verification by summoning another expert.