The Murder Scene: Death & Autopsies

1. The Murder Scene: Death & Autopsies October 27, 2009

2. Do Now: • List what you KNOW about autopsies • (if you’re stuck, first think, what does the word mean?… go on from there! Think about the shows that you’ve seen) • List what you WANT to know about autopsies

3. Aim: What do crime scene investigators do with dead bodies? • Agenda: • Do now • CSI clip • Powerpoint! • Interactive autopsy… • Let’s learn some creepy stuff this week in honor of Halloween!

4. CSI clip • Episode 402 - “Assume Nothing” • Remember last time we took notes…? • That was BEFORE we learned about the steps a CSI takes at a crime scene. • Now, take notes and ESPECIALLY take note of which parts are with which step. • LASTLY - focus on the autopsy clip

5. The dead body • Unfortunately, the most important piece of evidence at many crime scenes

6. $$ • If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me which crime unit corpses were processed in…

7. Who examines the body? • If foul play suspected, FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS, often with help of forensic anthropologists and forensic entomologists. • Forensic pathology- the study of medicine as it relates to the application of law, especially criminal law.

8. Who examines the body? • Forensic anthropology-concerned with the identification and examination of human skeletal remains.

9. Forensic entomology -study of insects and their relation to a criminal investigation

10. Role of Forensic Pathologists • Medical Examiners or Coroners • What’s the diff? • ME are doctors • Coroners are elected officials, must live in community • Must answer several basic questions

11. Role of Forensic Pathologists • Must answer several basic questions: • Who is the victim? • What injuries are present? • When did the injuries occur? • Why and how were the injuries made? • Main Role: Determining cause of death

12. How do they determine cause of death? • Determination of cause of death via observation? • OR an autopsy is performed to determine cause of death

13. Cause of death • Five categories • Natural • Homicide • Suicide • Accident • undetermined

14. If cause of death is suspicious… • Must perform an autopsy • Autopsy- the medical dissection and examination of a body in order to determine the cause of death • Ex: (DON’T WRITE) a decedent with with a gun shot would on his hand LOOKS like he committed suicide… however, upon further exams, suffocation was the actual cause of death.

15. Lets do some vocab. • Decedent- a person who has died • Suffocation- to kill or destroy by preventing access to Oxygen.

16. Aim: • How are autopsies performed? • Agenda • Virtual Autopsy • Stations (to be completed tomorrow)

17. Interactive Autopsy • Dr. Baden - a Forensic Pathologist • Very famous - “detective of death” • Show on HBO that explores high profile cases. • I’m going to see how we might be able to tie this into class :D • http://www.hbo.com/autopsy/swf/casebook2/casebook2.html

18. Autopsy Stations • Three Stations • Medical Examiner / Coroner & Experience • Internal Examination • External Examination • YOUR TASK: • Take notes on each. Don’t write on paper! • Write 3 Quiz Questions on your station.

19. HW: How to perform an autopsy • Remember the ‘How to’ assignment? • Make a list in order of how to perform an autopsy. • Ex – your first step should take place at the crime scene

20. How to perform an autopsy • The point of this assignment is to SYNTHESIZE the information from the presention, virtual autopsy, & stations. • You must include information from all three pieces.

21. What did you LEARN • Stop and jot what you learned today - you should have btw 3 and 5 bullet points! • Important! I’m checking this.