Intervención forense en el accidente de autobús con 13 víctimas mortales en Freginals, Tarragona, España / Forensic intervention in the bus accident with 13 fatalities in Freginals, Tarragona, Spain

La identificación de cadáveres en sucesos con múltiples víctimas es un reto y una de las actividades principales de la patología forense. De la correcta identificación y gestión de identificación se derivan repercusiones legales, humanitarias y sociales generando un gran impacto.El objetivo del presente trabajo es presentar el proceso de gestión e identificación de las 13 víctimas mortales del accidente de autobús ocurrido en la autopista AP7 en marzo de 2016, en Freginals (Tarragona, España). Se analizan las rápidas identificaciones de las víctimas mortales, los diferentes mecanismos de control de calidad empleados, la atención a los familiares, así como la gestión propia de la catástrofe con los recursos humanos y materiales disponibles.A pesar de la nacionalidad extranjera de todas las víctimas, que determinó el método de identificación, todas ellas fueron identificadas rápidamente mediante odontología, huellas dactilares o ADN y fueron rápidamente retornadas a sus familias y países de origen. Italia fue el país de donde procedían un mayor número de víctimas. Se destaca la participación de los médicos forenses en la recuperación de datos antemortem. (AU)

Corpses identification in events with multiple victims is a challenge and one of the main activities of Forensic Pathology. Legal, humanitarian and social repercussions are derived from the correct identification and also its management, generating a great impact.The objective of this paper is to present the management and identification process of the 13 deaths that occurred in the bus accident on the AP7 motorway in March 2016 in Freginals (Tarragona, Spain). The rapid identification of fatalities, the different quality control mechanisms used, attention to family members, as well as the proper management of the catastrophe with the human and material resources available are analysed.Despite the foreign nationality of all the victims, which determined the method of identification, all of them were quickly identified by dentistry, fingerprinting or DNA and were quickly returned to their families and countries of origin. Italy was the country where the largest number of victims came from. The participation of forensic doctors in ante mortem data recovery is highlighted. (AU)

Correction: Natural and Undetermined Sudden Death: Value of Post-Mortem Genetic Investigation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167358.].

Natural and Undetermined Sudden Death: Value of Post-Mortem Genetic Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Sudden unexplained death may be the first manifestation of an unknown inherited cardiac disease. Current genetic technologies may enable the unraveling of an etiology and the identification of relatives at risk. The aim of our study was to define the etiology of natural deaths, younger than 50 years of age, and to investigate whether genetic defects associated with cardiac diseases could provide a potential etiology for the unexplained cases. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Our cohort included a total of 789 consecutive cases (77.19% males) <50 years old (average 38.6±12.2 years old) who died suddenly from non-violent causes. A comprehensive autopsy was performed according to current forensic guidelines. During autopsy a cause of death was identified in most cases (81.1%), mainly due to cardiac alterations (56.87%). In unexplained cases, genetic analysis of the main genes associated with sudden cardiac death was performed using Next Generation Sequencing technology. Genetic analysis was performed in suspected inherited diseases (cardiomyopathy) and in unexplained death, with identification of potentially pathogenic variants in nearly 50% and 40% of samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac disease is the most important cause of sudden death, especially after the age of 40. Close to 10% of cases may remain unexplained after a complete autopsy investigation. Molecular autopsy may provide an explanation for a significant part of these unexplained cases. Identification of genetic variations enables genetic counseling and undertaking of preventive measures in relatives at risk.

Contributions of pediatrics in identification of disaster victims.

INTRODUCTION: All kinds of disasters have taken place in the world in last years. The challenge of dealing with disasters is not only the concern of disaster planners, but also of health professionals and the health system as a whole, paediatricians and forensic pathologists included. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difficulties of application of both the positive and the presumptive criteria in the disaster identification of minor's deaths and the possible collaboration between both specialties. CONCLUSIONS: In a disaster with minor's deaths, the difficulties in the application of disaster identification items affect mainly to minors who are not adolescents. Although the role of pediatrics and paediatricians is the healthcare of minors, it is advisable to have the pediatrician's collaboration in the retrieval and gathering of the medical antemortem data.