[Sexual offences--selected cases]. / Przestepstwa seksualne--wybrane przypadki.

INTRODUCTION: Expert testimony on violence victims also includes victims of sexual assault. The role of an expert is to classify the injuries by their severity as defined in art. 157 156 or 217 of the Criminal Code pertaining to crimes against health and life. Also, the role of an expert opinion is to determine whether the injuries identified during the exam occurred at the time and under the circumstances stated in medical history. The examination of sexual assault victims is conducted by two experts: a gynecologist and a forensic physician. Most examinations are performed at different times and various medical centers. The conclusions are presented in an official report. Regardless of victim age, all sexual crimes are investigated ex officio by the Police Department and the Prosecutor's Office. Further legal classification of criminal offenses is the task of an appropriate legal body and the offenses are codified in accordance with the provisions of chapter XXV of the Criminal Code, articles 197 - 205. In controversial cases, i.e. when two different expert opinions appear on the same case, or if, according to the law enforcement, a medical opinion is insufficient for some reason, an appropriate expert or team of experts is appointed to resolve the problem. OBJECTIVES: To present selected cases of sexual violence victims treated at the Department of Gynecology and assessed at the Department of Forensic Medicine with reference to the challenges regarding qualification of the sustained injuries and clinical diagnoses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Research material included selected forensic opinions developed for law enforcement offices that involved victims of sexual violence. The expert opinions were prepared either on the basis of submitted evidence, or both, submitted evidence and examination of the victim at the Department of Forensic Medicine. Moreover the article presents a case of a patient examined and treated at the Department of Gynecology in Poznan. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the selected cases, the authors conclude that a medico-legal expert cannot uncritically accept previous diagnoses. Moreover every expert is given the right and obligation to verify them. The need for complete, rapid and almost simultaneous colaboration between physicians in charge of the case, forensic doctors, police officers and prosecutors was demonstrated. Lack of cooperation may give rise to different opinions, leading to unnecessary elongation of the medico-legal procedures. It was observed that time plays a crucial role if qualification of an injury is required. The obligation of medical staff to inform the law enforcement about all cases of child abuse was also emphasized.

Injuries due to human and animal aggression in humans.

INTRODUCTION: People breed animals, professionally take care of them, and work with them. To live with animals, however, it is necessary to know their behaviour and habits, as well as fears. Ignorance of this knowledge may lead to tragedy for the victim (a person), as well as for the beast (animal). Then, nobody cares whether the animal behaved itself or not in accordance with its nature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the presented study is to compare the rate of animal aggression in relation to cases of documented aggression towards humans. The victims were investigated according to the age, gender and types of injuries caused by animal bites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The protocols of autopsies (2,218) and medical-legal examinations (4,569) performed from 2004-2009 in the Department of Forensic Sciences in Poznan were analyzed. The selected data was studied using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 for Windows. RESULTS: Analysis revealed the presence of animal bite injuries in less than 1% of the deceased victims of aggression. The number of individuals who died as a result of animal bites varied from 1-4 a year, and in all cases these were postmortem injuries. Analysis of injuries among surviving victims of aggression showed animal bite injuries were present in 41 out of 4,569 victims, almost equally among males and females. Moreover, in 25 victims the bite injuries recognized as human were found. The majority of animal bites occurred in adults. The medium injuries were the most frequent in the animal bite victims. CONCLUSIONS: Animal aggression is a marginal problem considering all cases of aggression towards humans. In contrast to the aggression of humans towards other humans, this is a very rare cause of human death or even major injury.

The conclusive role of postmortem computed tomography (CT) of the skull and computer-assisted superimposition in identification of an unknown body.

Computed tomography is commonly used in modern medicine, and thus, it is often helpful for medicolegal purposes, especially as part of the antemortem record. The application of postmortem computed tomography and 3D reconstruction of the skull in challenging cases is reported, and its valuable contribution to positive identification is discussed. This paper presents a case in which the body of an unknown individual is identified. Positive identification had not been possible despite a multidisciplinary examination. The postmortem use of computerized tomography and 3D reconstruction of the skull followed by the comparison of individual morphological characteristics of the viscerocranium showed the concordant points between the deceased and a missing person. Finally, superimposition using a 3D-reconstructed skull instead of the skeletonized skull demonstrated an adequate degree of morphological consistency in the facial images of the analyzed individuals that lead to positive identification. It was concluded that where other methods of personal identification had failed, the use of postmortem computed tomography had proved to be instrumental in the positive identification of the deceased.

Causes of problems in multidisciplinary bitemark analysis / Przyczyny trudnosci interdyscyplinarnej analizy sladów ugryzien.

Since a successful bitemark analysis depends on many factors, it is important that the phases preceding the analysis be carried out as thoroughly as possible. Interpretive errors in the analysis arise primarily from the complex nature of bitemarks, but also as a result of faulty research methodology, false assumptions or technical errors made during the identification and documentation process. The key role is played by qualifications, knowledge and experience of experts involved in the investigations. In case bitemarks are detected, it is recommended to seek consultations by forensic odontologists or members of an interdisciplinary team experienced in bitemark analysis. The thus obtained information allows for gathering evidence guaranteeing a reliable expert opinion.

[Comparison of bite marks and teeth features using 2D and 3D methods]. / Analiza porównawcza sladów zebów i cech zebów z wykorzystaniem metod 2D i 3D.

UNLABELLED: The nature of bite marks is complex. They are found at the scene of crime on different materials and surfaces - not only on human body and corpse, but also on food products and material objects. Human bites on skin are sometimes difficult to interpret and to analyze because of the specific character of skin--elastic and distortable--and because different areas of human body have different surfaces and curvatures. A bite mark left at the scene of crime can be a highly helpful way to lead investigators to criminals. The study was performed to establish: 1) whether bite marks exhibit variations in the accuracy of impressions on different materials, 2) whether it is possible to use the 3D method in the process of identifying an individual based on the comparison of bite marks revealed at the scene, and 3D scans of dental casts, 3) whether application of the 3D method allows for elimination of secondary photographic distortion of bite marks. The authors carried out experiments on simulated cases. Five volunteers bit various materials with different surfaces. Experimental bite marks were collected with emphasis on differentiations of materials. Subsequently, dental impressions were taken from five volunteers in order to prepare five sets of dental casts (the maxilla and mandible. The biting edges of teeth were impressed in wax to create an imprint. The samples of dental casts, corresponding wax bite impressions and bite marks from different materials were scanned with 2D and 3D scanners and photographs were taken. All of these were examined in detail and then compared using different methods (2D and 3D). RESULT: 1) Bite marks exhibit variations in accuracy of impression on different materials. The most legible reproduction of bite marks was seen on cheese. 2) In comparison of bite marks, the 3D method and 3D scans of dental casts are highly accurate. 3) The 3D method helps to eliminate secondary photographic distortion of bite marks.

[Problems associated with age estimation of underage persons who appear in child pornography materials]. / Problemy oceny wieku osób maloletnich w sprawach dotyczacych ich wykorzystania w pornografii dzieciecej.

UNLABELLED: Among opinions issued by the Forensic Medicine Department, Medical Science University in Poznan, in the last six years, there are opinions concerning age estimation in child pornography materials. The issue subject to research is indicating persons under the age of 15 years in pornographic materials, since possession of pornographic materials featuring underage persons is considered a crime and is subject to article 202 of the Penal Code. The estimation of the age of teenagers based on secondary and tertiary sexual characteristics is increasingly more difficult and the available data in professional literature regarding the standard time of development differ among various authors of such studies. In the report, an attempt has been made at determining the agreement regarding different characteristics in the data included in the Tanner's scale, which has been modified to accommodate the research done on persons registered by electronic means. The modified scale, which up to now has been used in research of registered subjects in classified public prosecutors' materials, has been employed in children seen in a pediatric outpatient department. The goal has been a comparison of the outcome of the research to prove its usefulness so that in the future, the modified scale could be used as a research tool in estimation of age of persons appearing in pornography materials. MATERIAL AND METHOD: medical forms of 205 children seen in a pediatric outpatient department, based on the scale created by the present authors us and later processed using Excel.

[Fatal injuries of organs situated in the neck caused by fastened seat belts]. / Obrazenia smiertelne narzadów szyi spowodowane zapietymi pasami bezpieczenstwa.

The authors present the type and extent of injuries inflicted as a result of the victims wearing fastened seat belts during frontal impacts of the vehicles. As an example of a particular traffic accident, the authors describe a rare case of neck injuries resulting from improper fitting of the safety belt to the victim's height. The driver of the car that had frontally hit the obstacle was killed on the spot, while the female passenger, was taken to hospital in a severe condition, where she died several hours later. The direct cause of death of the passenger were injuries of the organs situated in the neck, such as rupture larynx, epiglottis and the thyroid cartilage, as well as the hyoid bone fracture resulting from an impact with a fastened safety belt.

[Difficulties in identification of human corpses and skeletal remains on the basis of dental records and examinations]. / Trudnosci identyfikacji zwlok i szczatków ludzkich w oparciu o dokumentacje i badania stomatologiczne.

The entire skull-based complex comparative identification procedure consists of several detailed studies from different disciplines of science. The range of the performed studies predominantly depends on the available and collected comparative material pertaining to the examined individual and the final outcome of the complex identification procedure represents the results of individual stages of the studies. Odontological tests involving the comparison of dentition in the examined human skull with the dentition of the typed person, established by the available comparative material, represent a significant element of the identification procedure. The aim of the investigations was the examination of availability and usefulness of dental records during the identification process. The research was based on expert opinions issued in human-skull based identification processes and performed at Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, in the period between 1996 and 2005. A total of 398 identification procedures carried out in 348 sculls was analyzed. The research was mainly identification of an individual through face reconstruction and a skull/photo comparison. An overall number of 206 computer (digital) face-reconstructions and 263 comparison analyses was done in the above-mentioned period. Statistically, in only 22 cases out of 263 comparison analyses some dental records were available. Even then, dental records were not always relevant. In 4 cases, dental records were either incomplete, inaccurate or unreadable.