Conhecimento e interesse em Odontologia Legal dos graduandos em Odontologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba / Conocimiento e interés en Odontología Forense de estudiantes de graduación en Odontología de la Universidad Federal de Paraíba / Knowledge and interest in Forensic Dentistry among undergraduate dental students at the Universidade Federal da Paraíba

O estudo objetivou identificar o conhecimento e interesse em Odontologia Legal dos estudantes de Odontologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB) e comparar os resultados entre os graduandos que não haviam cursado as disciplinas de Odontologia Legal e Ética e Legislação e aqueles que já tivessem cursado. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo com abordagem indutiva e técnica de documentação direta e extensiva com procedimentos estatísticos descritivos do tipo correlacional. Foram analisadas as respostas aos questionários online acerca do conhecimento e do interesse na Odontologia Legal pelos estudantes que não cursaram as disciplinas de Ética e Legislação Odontológica e Odontologia Legal (G1; n=45) daqueles que cursaram tais disciplinas (G2; n=29). Os dados foram analisados descritivamente e pelo teste qui-quadrado (α=5%). Observou-se que dos estudantes do G1, 44,4% (n= 20) apontaram a Odontologia Legal como meio de identificação humana e investigação e o G2 teve 48,27% (n=14) relacionando ser "Voltada para identificação criminal". Na autoavaliação dos estudantes acerca do conhecimento, o G1 teve 44,4% (n=20) avaliando em "Muito Baixo" e o G2 apresentou "Muito Baixo", "Baixo" e "Médio" com mesma porcentagem 24,1% (n=7), havendo diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,002). Quanto ao interesse na carreira profissional, 37,8% dos estudantes do G1 positivaram e do G2, 48,3%. Nas questões objetivas os índices de acerto não passaram de 51% no G1 e 56% no G2 e a área mais apontada como relacionada à Odontologia Legal foi "Identificação Humana" (97,7% e 100%) em ambos os grupos. Em relação ao interesse na área após aplicação do questionário, ambos os grupos apontaram "Muito Alto" em maior porcentagem. Constatou-se conhecimento mediano dos estudantes e grande interesse em Odontologia Legal, independentemente do grupo de estudantes. Verificou-se também que menos de 50% tem interesse em seguir carreira na área da Odontologia Legal (AU).

El objetivo del estudio fue identificar el conocimiento y el interés de los estudiantes de odontología de la Universidad Federal de Paraíba (UFPB) y comparar los resultados entre los estudiantes que no habían cursado las asignaturas de Odontología Forense y Ética y Legislación con los que ya habían cursado. Es una investigación de campo con enfoque inductivo y técnica de documentación directa y extensiva con procedimientos estadísticos descriptivos del tipo correlacional. Se evaluaron cuestionarios online sobre conocimientos e interés en Odontología Forense, de estudiantes que no cursaron Ética y Legislación en Odontología ni Odontología Forense (G1; n = 45), y de los que cursaron dichas asignaturas (G2; n = 29). Los datos se analizaron de forma descriptiva y mediante prueba de Chi-cuadrado (α =5%). De los estudiantes de G1, 44,4% (n = 20) señalóa la Odontología Forense como medio de identificación e investigación humana, y de los de G2, 48,27% (n = 14) la consideró"orientada a la identificación criminal". En la autoevaluación acerca de su grado de conocimiento, 44,4% (n=20) de G1 lo catalogó como "Muy bajo", al tiempo que, G2 presentó "Muy bajo", "Bajo" y "Medio", con el mismo porcentaje, 24,1% (n = 7), constatándose diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,002). Sobre el interés por la carrera profesional, 37,8% de G1 y 48,3% de G2 respondieron positivamente. En relación a las preguntas estructuradas, 51% de G1 y 56% de G2 fueron correctas, mencionando a la "Identificación Humana" como el área más Conhecimento e interesse em Odontologia Legal dos graduandos em Odontologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba relacionada con la Odontología Forense(97,7% y 100%, respectivamente). Con respecto al interés por el área, el mayor porcentaje de ambos grupos, señaló "Muy Alto". Se verificó un grado "Medio" de conocimiento y "Alto" de interés, en ambos grupos. En contrapartida, menos del 50% pretende especializarse en Odontología Forense (AU).

This study aimed to identify the knowledge and interest in Forensic Dentistry among undergraduate dental students at the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB). Furthermore, we aimed to compare the results between undergraduate students who had not studied Forensic Dentistry and Ethics and Legislation and those who had. This study comprises field research with an inductive approach and a direct and extensive documentation technique with descriptive statistical procedures of the correlational type. We analyzed the responses to the online questionnaires regarding knowledge and interest in Forensic Dentistry by students who did not take Dental Ethics and Legislation and Forensic Dentistry (G1; n=45) and those who did (G2; n=29). Data analysis was descriptive and by chi-square test (α=5%). We observed that 44.4% (n=20) of G1 students pointed to Forensic Dentistry as a human identification and investigation method. Meanwhile, 48.27% (n=14) of G2 students said it was "Focused on criminal identification". In the students' self-evaluation regarding knowledge, 44.4% (n=20) of G1 students rated their knowledge as "Very Low". Whereas, G2 students rated "Very Low", "Low", and "Medium" at the same percentage of 24.1% (n=7). Statistical difference was significant (p=0.002). Regarding the interest in a professional career, 37.8% of the G1 students were positive, while 48.3% were positive in G2. In the objective questions, the success indexes did not exceed 51% in G1 and 56% in G2. Moreover, the area most indicated in both groups (97.7% and 100%) as related to Forensic Dentistry was "Human Identification". After applying the questionnaire, both groups indicated the interest in the area as "Very High" in a higher percentage. Students showed average knowledge and great interest in Forensic Dentistry, regardless of the student group. Furthermore, we found that less than 50% are interested in pursuing a career in Forensic Dentistry (AU).

Men at war, recovery and analysis of soldiers' remains from the WWI and WWII Italian Front.

Italy was hit hard by the World Wars, still today the discovery of human remains dating back to 20th century is a common phenomenon, in particular on Alpine glaciers, due to climate changes. The authors will describe the Italian scenario in terms of legislation, scientific procedures and related disciplines involved, then the difficulties in the identification of human remains of soldiers, but also potential issues related to uncontrolled "scavenging" activities and consequent ethical aspects. The interdisciplinarity, used as systematic approach to deal with complex cases, allowed the presumptive identification of a WWI soldier recovered after one century from the glaciers of the Adamello mountain, as described. Putting aside the national perspective, the authors endorse and encourage the establishment of an international working group in order to share common issues, to exchange experience and to build global best-practices.

RELIGION AND DISASTER VICTIM IDENTIFICATION.

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) is a triangle, the components of which are secular law, religious law and custom and professional methods. In cases of single non-criminal deaths, identification often rests with a hospital or a medical authority. When dealing with criminal or mass death incidents, the law, in many jurisdictions, assigns identification to the coroner/medical examiner, who typically uses professional methods and only answers the religious requirements of the deceased's next-of-kin according to his personal judgment. This article discusses religious considerations regarding scientific methods and their limitations, as well as the ethical issues involved in the government coroner/medical examiner's becoming involved in clarifying and answering the next-of-kin's religious requirements.

Chacarita Project: conformation and analysis of a modern and documented human osteological collection from Buenos Aires City--theoretical, methodological and ethical aspects.

Osteological reference collections play a key role in bioanthropological research; they allow the development and testing of methods for sexing and ageing individuals using various bone and dental attributes. This paper presents the first stage results of the ongoing Chacarita Research Project, which aims to generate and study a reference collection of adult skeletons representative of the contemporary population of Buenos Aires city. The Chacarita Collection consists of unclaimed human remains of individuals of known nationality, sex, age, cause and date of death from the Chacarita Public Cemetery. Unlike other similar endeavours, this sample has been completely exhumed using archaeological techniques. So far, a total of 146 adult skeletons have been recovered (60 females - 41.1% and 86 males - 58.90%), the majority of which have ages-at-death in the range of 71-90 years. They were born primarily in Argentina (n=133; 91.1%), although other nationalities are also represented. Dates of death range between 1987 and 2000. In the short term, the osteological study of this collection will allow assessment of the performance of classical methods of sex determination and age-at-death estimation in a local setting. A special priority will be given to the study of osteological changes in individuals over 50 years. As the sample is being retrieved by exhumation, the impact of taphonomic agents on the most diagnostic bone structures is also being assessed. In the long term, this osteological collection will be available to generate new population-specific techniques and to develop comparative biological studies.

O cérebro criminógeno na antropologia criminal do século XIX: um estudo sobre a etiologia do crime a partir da medicalização da sociedade / The criminogenous brain in the criminal anthropology of the 19th-century: a study of the ethiology of crime from the medicalisation of society

O presente trabalho se dedica a realizar uma incursão na história do pensamento criminológico a fim de contribuir para um mapeamento das justificativas do surgimento de certas normas penais, algumas ainda em vigor, e o mapeamento das razões da edificação de muitas instituições jurídicas e administrativas, algumas ainda em funcionamento. A análise tradicional da biografia da Criminologia costuma, todavia, omitir certas ideias que deveriam ser integradas ao percurso da sua vertente científica. Vários são os autores que apontam para a origem da trajetória cientificista criminológica na Europa do fim do século XIX. No entanto, quando se aprofunda na identificação das raízes das referências positivistas na implicação Medicina-Pessoa-Sociedade da era moderna e sua influência na seara criminológica, percebe-se que uma tímida Criminologia já estava nascendo no início do século XIX com os estudos sobre a fisiologia cerebral. Em meio a um processo político amplo de fortalecimento do Estado e da burguesia, dá-se a formação de um aparato médico-jurídico, pelo qual se demonstra a tentativa de reconhecimento da autoridade médica para além dos limites legítimos da atividade. Preocupa-se, portanto, em chamar a atenção para o movimento de“medicalização” do criminoso por uma leitura histórica do impacto do “cientificismocerebral” na esfera criminal. O material desenvolvido pela Frenologia e, depois, pela Antropologia Criminal, é emblemático dessa onda cientificista do século XIX, na qual as pesquisas cerebrais imprimem a visão sobre a etiologia do crime a partir de seus marcadores biológicos.

Cadáveres quemados. Estudio antropológicoforense / Burned corpses. Forensic anthropological study

La acción del fuego sobre el cuerpo puede producirafectación de la piel determinando quemaduras de diversosgrados o carbonización llegando a afectar al hueso, eincluso a calcinarlo. Cuando el grado de afectación esintenso deben aplicarse los protocolos de antropologíaforense, teniendo en cuenta las particularidades del caso.Presentamos cuatro casos estudiados en el Laboratoriode Antropología Forense de la Escuela de Medicina Legalde Madrid, en los que se han seguido técnicas diferentesa fin de poder establecer la identificación del cadáver y eldiagnóstico de la muerte así como otras cuestiones deinterés en la investigación antropológico forense(AU)

The action of fire on the body can affect the skindetermining diverse degree of burns or may affect thebone, even cremate it. When the degree of burn isintense, protocols of forensic anthropology should be used,taking into account the details of each case. We presentfour cases studied in the Laboratory of ForensicAnthropology at the School of Legal Medicine in Madrid, inwhich different techniques have been used in order toestablish the identification of the cadaver and the cause ofdeath as well as other questions of interest in the forensicanthropological investigation(AU)

Interpretación de las anomalías esqueléticas y su contribución a la investigación forense / Contributions of skeletal abnormality interpretation to forensic investigation

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Importancia del estudio antropológico forense para la calificación jurídica de una muerte violenta / Importance of anthropological forensic study to the juridical qualification of a violent death

La identificación de un cadáver en "mal estado" puede ser complicada a causa de los procesos tafonómicos y putrefactivos que ha sufrido. La combinación de las técnicas de autopsia clásicas, específicas de un cadáver reciente, además de los análisis en antropología forense son fundamentales para determinar el tipo de lesiones, mecanismo de producción, evolución y, como en este caso, para la calificación jurídica. Presentamos el caso de un cadáver no identificado y parcialmente incinerado aparecido en un descampado. El examen externo evidenció la coexistencia de zonas de carbonización, momificación, reducción esquelética y descomposición activa. La autopsia reveló la existencia de puntos de sutura a nivel abdominal como signos individualizadores y como signos de violencia un traumatismo craneoencefálico múltiple. Los restos fueron esqueletizados y se efectuó un estudio antropológico y odontológico. A partir de estos análisis se obtuvo información sobre la edad, sexo, talla además de rasgos morfológicos y odontológicos particulares. Estos hallazgos, además de los proporcionados por la autopsia, se contrastaron con la información de la policía sobre individuos desaparecidos y finalmente pudo identificarse. El patrón de fractura craneal permitió secuenciar el orden de las lesiones que fueron atribuidos a la acción repetitiva de un objeto contundente como un martillo. La cronología lesional, basada en el patrón de interrupción de las fracturas craneales irradiadas, permitió asegurar que el primer impacto del martillo fue en la zona posterior del cráneo y sirvió de base para la calificación de traición como agravante de la pena solicitada por el Ministerio Fiscal para el homicida

Identification of a corpse in a bad condition can be complicated due to taphonomical processes and active decomposition on human remains. The combination of classical autopsy techniques, characteristic of the study of a recent corpse, and legal anthropology analysis, is fundamental in order to determine the type of lesions, the mechanism, its evolution and, as in this case, to allow a juridical qualification. In this paper we describe the case of an unidentified corpse, partially burned that appeared in the open air in a waste area. External examination showed the coexistence of carbonization, mummification, skeletal reduction and active decomposition zones. Autopsy showed the existence of stitches at abdominal level as an individual trait and, as signs of violence, a multiple craneal traumatism. A skeleton has been made with the human remains and an anthropological and odontological study was carried out. Starting from these analysis we obtained information about the age, sex, height and also peculiar morphological and odontological traits. These researches, in the light of the autopsy's results, have been compared with the information about missing people supplied by police. Finally, the identification was possible. The pattern of the skull's fracture allowed to arrange in sequence the lesions and to consider them to the repeated action of a blunt instrument such as a hammer. The chronology of the lesions, based on the pattern of interruption of irradiated fractures, permit to assure that the first hammer's blow was made on the cráneoum's rear. This has been qualified as a treacherous act and increased the murderer's penalty requested by the public attorney

Crime scene ethics: souvenirs, teaching material, and artifacts.

Police and forensic specialists are ethically obliged to preserve the integrity of their investigations and their agencies' reputations. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Canadian Society of Forensic Science provide no guidelines for crime scene ethics, or the retention of items from former crime scenes. Guidelines are necessary to define acceptable behavior relating to removing, keeping, or selling artifacts, souvenirs, or teaching specimens from former crime scenes, where such activities are not illegal, to prevent potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety. Proposed guidelines permit the retention of objects with educational value, provided they are not of significance to the case, they are not removed until the scene is released, permission has been obtained from the property owner and police investigator, and the item has no significant monetary value. Permission is necessary even if objects appear discarded, or are not typically regarded as property, e.g., animal bones.

From dust to dust: ethical and practical issues involved in the location, exhumation, and identification of bodies from mass graves.

There are many potential purposes served by the investigation of human remains: criminal fact-finding, archaeological exploration, forensic research, and others. This paper focuses on the identification of remains from mass graves to find missing persons. The primary goal of such efforts is to honor the memory of the dead by bringing closure to living family members, thus supporting the human rights of both the living and the deceased. Cultures, customs, political, and interpersonal specifics will vary, but that singular goal should remain the central guiding principle. This article presents ethical and practical issues resulting from efforts to locate, exhume, and identify the remains of mass fatalities.