When DNA profiling is not enough? A case of same-sex siblings identification by odontological assessment after gas explosion-related building collapse.

We aimed to show the usefulness of odontological assessment in forensic investigation. Charred remains of two female siblings were found in a collapsed building after a gas explosion. Due to thermal damage of the bodies, the facial characteristics, fingerprints, height and weight could not be used to distinguish between siblings. Since the victims, 4 and 10-year-old, died simultaneously and all personal belongings were lost, DNA profiling performed with their parents only confirmed the relationship. As dental charts of siblings were not found, we could not easily discriminate which remains would be of the elder and which of the younger sister. The odontological examination enabled us to discriminate between the siblings based on differences in deciduous and permanent dentition. We conclude that although DNA profiling is becoming a standard method of personal identification in some cases it should be supported by additional methods to deliver comprehensive forensic reports.

Synthetic cathinones - From natural plant stimulant to new drug of abuse.

As recreational substances, synthetic cathinones started to be used at the beginning of the 21st century. There is still limited data on these compounds, introduced to the illicit drug market for the most part after 2009. Considering that synthetic cathinones are currently the second largest group of new psychoactive and dangerous substances among over 670 new psychoactive substances identified in Europe and monitored by the EMCDDA, research on them should be regarded as extremely important. This review focuses on the availability of synthetic cathinones on the illicit drug market, presentation of current trends in the use of these substances, and their mechanisms of action and toxicity. The authors discuss cases of intoxication with synthetic cathinones and post-mortem diagnostics as well as the problem of combined used of synthetic cathinones with other psychoactive substances. Literature as well as clinical and forensic data indicate the need for further research on the metabolism, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics, clinical effects, and addictive potential of synthetic cathinones, especially in the context of potential threats caused by increased consumption of this group of drugs in future.

Trial helplessness of defendant healthcare facilities in cases concerning nosocomial infections / Nieporadnosc procesowa pozwanych jednostek ochrony zdrowia w sprawach o zakazenia szpitalne.

The number of pecuniary cases involving patient claims due to nosocomial infections has been increasing for many years, and with it, the amount of adjudged compensations has also been increasing. In this situation, it is important for defendant healthcare facilities to implement a proper policy, both before the trial and during the court proceedings. Unfortunately, as a rule, defendant facilities commit a variety of errors, such as: wrong strategy, inability to cooperate on the part of those involved in the matter and improper preparation and usage of evidence. The result is that the risk of unfavorable assessment of the case increases significantly.

[Medico-legal assessment of the injuries of fatal victims of building collapse at Katowice International Fair in Katowice/Chorzów on January 28, 2006]. / Sadowo-lekarska ocena obrazen u smiertelnych ofiar katastrofy budowlanej na terenie Miedzynarodowych Targów Katowickich w Katowicach/Chorzowie w dniu 28.01.2006 roku.

On January 28, 2006, during an exhibition of carrier pigeons, the roof of one of the buildings at Katowice International Fair collapsed. At the time of accident, there were 700 people in the building--65 died and 171 were injured. It was the biggest building disaster in the history of modern Poland. The aim of this study was to present the type (character) of the observed injuries, the cause of death of 48 fatal victims and the range of activities and medico-legal examinations performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. In the period of January 29-February 1, 2006, on February 14, 2006, and February 17, 2006, post-mortem examinations of the 48 deceased were carried out, and in some cases additional dissecting techniques were employed. During autopsies, numerous specimens for various additional examinations (histopathological, toxicological) were collected. For identification purposes, photographic material and specimens, necessary for genetic identification, were secured. Additionally, the bodies were identified by families. The post-mortem procedures eventually allowed for establishing the cause of death of all the victims. The authors emphasize the range of necessary medico-legal procedures and examinations that should be carried out in a Department of Forensic Medicine in case of a building collapse with a large number of fatalities in order to determine the type of injuries, cause and mechanism of death and to identify the deceased.