The postman always rings twice: two cases of shotgun deaths associated with an unconventional home security alarm system.

Injury and death cases caused by booby traps are not common in forensic medicine practice. Besides, installation of booby traps including firearms is generally for suicidal and rarely for homicidal purposes. Although few patents were described about home security alarm system that were created by firearms in the United States, 1 sample of injury with a similar unconventional mechanism of home safety system was reported by Asirdizer and Yavuz in 2009. In the published case report, the story of an electrical technician who was invited to a summer house by the homeowner to check the home security alarm system was reported. In the so-called report, he was stated to be injured by the shotgun attached to the unconventional home security alarm system while checking the system. As a result, the homeowner was convicted of a possible intent to cause a life-threatening injury to the technician.The so-called homeowner and his wife died by the same shotgun attached to the same unconventional home security alarm system 4 years on from the first event. In the present case report, we have aimed to present the findings of the crime scene and the autopsies of these unusual 2 deaths and to discuss individual and legal factors in paving the way for the deaths of 2 people.

Elderly suicides in Turkey.

Due to the unique physical and psychosocial characteristics of this age group, it is expected that the characteristics of elderly suicides are different from other groups. Knowing the characteristics of elderly suicides guides prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics, methods and reasons for suicide in elderly suicide cases using the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute between 2002 and 2019. Of the completed suicides among older adults, 4,208 (74%) cases were men and 1,481 (26%) were women. Crude suicide rates of all elderly age groups were higher than the general population. Illness was the most common reason for suicide. The second leading cause of suicide was marital conflicts in women, while financial difficulties were observed in men. Hanging was the most common method in both genders. It is remarkable that the use of gunshot considerably increases as years progress and the ratio of men (n:962) to women (n:16) reach 60. Considering these findings together with epidemiologic data predicting that this increase in the elderly population will almost double within less than 30 years, it is apparent that suicide is a major issue among older adults.

[Incorrect identification in forensic medicine (wrong conclusion): a case report]. / Adli tibbi uygulamalarda hatali tanimlama, yanlis karar: Olgu sunumu.

Correct identification of lesions in examined patients is as important in forensic medicine application as it is in the medical profession. However, general practitioners and clinicians often fail to give proper attention to the definition and recording of the lesions and clinical findings in patients. Additionally, the identification of the lesion is sometimes deficient or incorrect. This has hindered, particularly in traumatic events that are of a forensic nature, reaching accurate conclusions during the interpretative and legal phases. In this study, we describe the case of a nine-year-old boy admitted to the hospital following a traffic accident. During his evaluation, an ecchymosis "resembling a rail" on his chest was noted. Consequently, legal/judicial authorities suspected the child may have been exposed to violence or child abuse and he was referred to our department. Practitioners may contribute to inaccurate decisions/conclusions if they fail to give the necessary detailed attention during the forensic interpretation (detailed examination and recording of lesions) and judicial process or if they have insufficient knowledge on this subject. This case is submitted as an interesting example since it included the possibility of inaccurate conclusion and judgment.

Analyses of suicidal deaths with shotguns in Istanbul, 1998-2007.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, some features of suicidal firearm deaths have been described, but series of suicidal deaths using shotgun are limited in the literature. The aim of the present study was to define several characteristics of suicidal shotgun deaths. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed retrospectively 36,971 autopsy reports recorded by the Mortuary Section of the Forensic Medicine Council of Istanbul between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2007. RESULTS: Seventy-three shotgun-related suicide cases were evaluated. Of the 73 cases, 46 (63%) were male and 27 (37%) were female. Most of the cases (n=36, 53.4%) were aged 16-20 years (p<0.001). Sixty-two of the suicides (84.9%) occurred in victims' homes (p<0.001). A suicide note was recovered in 7 cases (9.6%). While entry wounds were on the head in the majority of the cases (n=29, 39.8%) (p<0.001), in nearly half of the female victims (n=12; 44.4%), entry wound was in the abdominal region. Fifty-six shots (76.7%) were determined to be from loose-contact range (p<0.001). Ethyl alcohol was detected in 17.8% (n=13) of blood samples of the cases. CONCLUSION: Handling and usage of shotguns should be under strict control, educational efforts should be directed to early and late adolescents and their parents and psychological support centers should also be founded in an effort to prevent suicidal deaths with shotguns.

The importance of clinical approach in aggravated sexual abuse: Case report.

The reported rate of sex crimes, some of the most severe acts of violence that can be perpetrated against an individual, is increasing across all societies, regardless of gender or age of the victim. Sexual abuse has been defined, in part, as the involvement of a child in sexual activity for which they are incapable of giving consent, that they cannot fully comprehend, or for which they are developmentally immature. Molestation of the anorectal region is frequently encountered when the victim of sexual abuse is a male child. Tenderness around the anus, ecchymosis, and detachment in the anal sphincter and rectum mucosa may be observed in the acute examination of children who have been subjected to aggravated sexual abuse; however, injuries related to the anus or the rectum may also occur as a result of an accident. An 11-year-old male patient was referred from another health center with a report of being at risk of death. The injury that was said to be the result of accidentally sitting on a knife. An examination in the lithotomy position revealed perianal ecchymosis, a superficial laceration at 1 and 6 o'clock, and a deep laceration at 7 o'clock. Based upon a suspicion of sexual abuse, anal and rectal swab specimens were obtained. The pediatric surgery department performed a primary repair of the lacerations. The microscopic examination of the swab specimens revealed cells showing sperm morphology, and therefore the appropriate forensic statements were made and the swab specimens were sent to the judicial authority for genetic analysis. This report emphasizes the importance of the awareness of physicians regarding the prompt collection and submission of potentially evidential biological samples in a case of suspected sexual abuse though it may be presented as an accident.

Infant and adolescent deaths in Istanbul due to home accidents.

Adolescent and infant deaths due to home accidents pose an important social problem and can be prevented significantly by appropriate measures. The aims of this study about adolescent deaths under the age of 18 and infant deaths due to home accidents were assessment of risk factors and proposals for protective measures. Toward these aims, 414 autopsy reports (Provided by Mortuary Section, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul Turkey, 1996-2000) were reviewed, as well as scene investigation data and information from eyewitnesses. Determination of risk factors, appropriate education, as well as legal regulations for manufacturers of household articles may significantly reduce the number of infant and adolescent deaths due to home accidents.

Asymmetry, handedness and auricle morphometry / Asimetría, lateralidad y morfometría de la oreja

The aims of this study were to determine various morphometric measurements of auricle, to investigate asymmetry and its relation with handedness in both sexes. Main morphometric measurements of both auricles and hand preferences were determined on 200 male and 200 female healthy university students. All measurements of the auricles were larger in males than the corresponding ones in females and all the differences except earlobe widths were statistically significant. All measurements of left and right auricles were statistically significantly different in both sexes except earlobe length in males, and distance from the highest point of the auricle to the bottom of the intertragic notch and earlobe length in females. Auricle length and distance from the highest point of the auricle to the bottom of the intertragic notch had higher values at the left side and all other measurements were larger at the right side. There was no significant difference between the measurements of the corresponding auricles of the righthanded and lefthanded subjects. All measurements were larger at the right side except auricle length and distance from the highest point of the auricle to the bottom of the intertragic notch in righthanded and lefthanded subjects and all differences except earlobe length were significantly different in righthanded subjects as in the total population but in lefthanded subjects the difference of the auricle width was not significant, either. There was an apparent asymmetry of right and left auricles of normal people in the current study which should be taken in to consideration in plastic surgeries of the external ear, designing the ear devices and forensic applications of earprints.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar diversas mediciones morfométricas de la oreja, para investigar la asimetría y su relación con el uso de las manos en ambos sexos. Se realizaron mediciones morfométricas de los pabellones auriculares y las manos de 400 estudiantes universitarios (200 hombres y 299 mujeres). Todas las medidas de las orejas fueron mayores en los hombres y todas las diferencias, excepto las correspondientes al ancho del lóbulo auricular, fueron estadísticamente significativas. Todas las mediciones de los pabellones auriculares izquierdos y derechos presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en ambos sexos, excepto en el caso de la longitud del lóbulo auricular en los hombres, y la distancia desde el punto más alto de la oreja a la parte inferior de la incisura intertrágica en el lóbulo auricular de las mujeres. La longitud de la oreja y la distancia desde el punto más alto de la misma a la parte inferior de la escotadura intertrágica tenían valores más altos en el lado izquierdo y todas las demás mediciones fueron más elevadas en el lado derecho. No hubo diferencia significativa entre las mediciones de las orejas correspondientes a los sujetos diestros y zurdos. Todas las mediciones fueron superiores en el lado derecho, excepto la longitud del pabellón auricular y la distancia desde el punto más alto de la oreja a la parte inferior de la incisura intertrágica en sujetos diestros y sujetos zurdos, y todas las diferencias, excepto la longitud del lóbulo auricular, fueron significativamente diferentes en los sujetos diestros como en la población total, pero en sujetos zurdos la diferencia de la anchura de la oreja no fue significativa. Se encontró una aparente asimetría en las orejas derecha e izquierda de los sujetos del presente estudio que debe tenerse en consideración en las cirugías plásticas del oído externo, para el diseño de los dispositivos de audición y para su aplicación en estudios forenses de las huellas de la oreja.

A case of shotgun injury which occurred while an unconventional home security alarm system was being checked.

Installation of devices involving shotguns is rarely encountered in forensic medicine practice. In this case report, authors aimed to present an unusual and rare case of shotgun injury due to a home security alarm system and its legal assessment. An electrical technician was invited to a summer house to check a home security alarm system installed by another firm which he worked for previously. It was an unconventional home security alarm system attached to a shotgun. The technician was injured with 18 buckshot pellets (no: 4) while checking the system. The host was convicted of a possible intent to cause a life-threatening injury to the technician. We think that this verdict will set a precedent for similar cases.

A battered child case with duodenal perforation.

Battered child syndrome can refer to children exposed to harmful, non-accidental and preventable physical treatment by those are responsible for their care which prevents the child's physical, cognitive and spiritual development. A 28 months old boy was submitted to hospital due to abdominal blunt trauma. He had been firstly applied to Isparta Children Hospital by his parents with the complaint of fever. In the first examination, he was conscious, his general condition was poor there was respiratory acidosis, and neck stiffness was present. There were several fresh traumatic lesions on his face and left arm. His complaints were thought due to meningitis and antibiotics were started. He was transported to Suleyman Demirel University Hospital after a day because of vomiting, abdominal pain, tender, distended and silent abdomen, and air-fluid levels in direct abdominal X-rays. An old fracture of the right 9th rib was detected with chest X-ray in university hospital. Additionally, abdominal ultrasound scan showed distended bowel loops filled with fluid. Laparotomy revealed a complete rupture of the junction of the third and fourth parts of the duodenum and several hemorrhagic regions on bowel loops. The patient was discharged after 42 days. This case report described the case through both medical and legal processed in Turkey.