MEDICO LEGAL ASPECTS OF DEATH

Question 1

The TERMINATION OF LIFE or the complete cessation of all the vital functions (heart, brain, lungs) without possibility of resuscitation.

Answer 1

DEATH

Question 2

It may also be defined as an IRREVERSIBLE LOSS of the PROPERTIES OF LIVING MATTER.

Answer 2

DEATH

Question 3

Occurs when there is IRREVERSIBLE COMA, ABSENCE OF ELECTRICAL BRAIN ACTIVITY and complete cessation of all the vital functions without possibility of resuscitation.

Answer 3

BRAIN DEATH

Question 4

Occurs when there is a continuous and persistent CESSATION OF HEART ACTION AND RESPIRATION.

Answer 4

CARDIO RESPIRATORY DEATH

Question 5

Categories of Death:

Answer 5

1. BRAIN DEATH
2. CARDIO RESPIRATORY DEATH

Question 6

Kinds of Death:

Answer 6

1. SOMATIC DEATH/CLINICAL DEATH
2. MOLECULAR/CELLULAR DEATH
3. STATE OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION/APPARENT DEATH

Question 7

— there is COMPLETE, persistent and continuous CESSATION of the VITAL FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN, heart and lungs that maintain life and death.

Answer 7

SOMATIC DEATH/CLINICAL DEATH

Question 8

— DEATH OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS that occurs ABOUT 3-6 HOURS after cessation of life

Answer 8

MOLECULAR/CELLULAR DEATH

Question 9

— it is not really death but merely a TRANSIENT LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS or temporary cessation of the vital functions of the body on account of disease, external stimulus or other forms of influence.

Answer 9

STATE OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION/APPARENT DEATH

Question 10

— type of death wherein WITHDRAWAL AND SEPARATION from the patient by others producing a sense of ISOLATION and ABANDONMENT, unvisited and let alone to die.

Answer 10

SOCIOLOGICAL DEATH

Question 11

— condition of death wherein the PATIENT REGRESSES OR SURRENDERS ACCEPTING DEATH PREMATURELY and refuses to continue living.

Answer 11

PSYCHIC DEATH

Question 12

— type of death characterized by the ABSENCE OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION or awareness, although artificial support system may maintain organs functioning.

Answer 12

BIOLOGIC DEATH

Question 13

— Type of death when ALL VITAL ORGANS CEASE TO FUNCTION.

Answer 13

PHYSIOLOGIC DEATH

Question 14

SOMATIC OR CLINICAL TYPES OF DEATH:

Answer 14

1. SOCIOLOGICAL DEATH
2. PSYCHIC DEATH
3. BIOLOGIC DEATH
4. PHYSIOLOGIC DEATH

Question 15

Examination of the Heart:

Answer 15

1. PALPATION OF THE PULSE
2. AUSCULTATION FOR HEART SOUNDS
3. FLUOROSCOPE EXAMINATION
4. ECG

Question 16

Place mercury or water on a saucer, and put on the chest - no movement of the reflections

Answer 16

WINSLOW’S TEST

Question 17

The RISE OF TEMPERATURE after death due to rapid and early putrefactive changes; observed in the FIRST 2 HOURS AFTER DEATH

Answer 17

POST MORTEM CALORICITY

Question 18

Post Mortem Caloricity May occur in the following diseases:

Answer 18

1.CHOLERA
2.YELLOW FEVER
3.LIVER ABSCESS
4.PERITONITIS
5.CEREBROSPINAL FEVER (MENINGITIS)
6.RHEUMATIC FEVER
7.TETANUS
8.SMALLPOX
9.STRYCHNINE POISONING

Question 19

DROPPING of body temperature
(15-20 °F/-6 to -9 °C)

Answer 19

COOLING OF THE BODY/ALGOR MORTIS

Question 20

DISCOLORATION, loss of elasticity, etc.

Answer 20

CHANGES IN THE SKIN

Question 21

LOSS OF CORNEAL REFLEX, clouding of the cornea, flaccidity of the eye ball, etc.

Answer 21

CHANGES IN THE EYE

Question 22

in living, blister contains abundant serum, in dead, dry blister and NO REDNESS OF THE SKIN.

Answer 22

NON-REACTION OF THE SKIN TO HEAT

Question 23

Common Signs Of Death Cont’d:

Answer 23

1. COOLING OF THE BODY/ALGOR MORTIS
2. INSENSIBILITY OF BODY AND LOSS OF POWER TO MOVE
3. CHANGES IN THE SKIN
4. CHANGES IN THE EYE
5. NON-REACTION OF THE SKIN TO HEAT

Question 24

Visible Changes In The Body After Death:

Answer 24

1. CHANGES IN BODY TEMPERATURE
2. CHANGES IN THE MUSCLES
3. CHANGES IN THE BLOOD
4. PUTREFACTION

Question 25

The PROGRESSIVE FALL OF THE BODY TEMPERATURE is one of the most prominent signs of death. After death, the metabolic process inside the body ceases.

Answer 25

ALGOR MORTIS OR COOLING OF THE BODY

Question 26

— The normal body temperature in a living person is ______________ — The fall of temperature of ____________ is considered as a certain sign of death

Answer 26

— 37°C or 98.3°F — 15 to 20°F

Question 27

After death, there is COMPLETE RELAXATION of the WHOLE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. The entire muscular system is contractile for THREE TO SIX HOURS after death, and later rigidity sets in.

Answer 27

CHANGES IN THE MUSCLE

Question 28

It is the stage of muscular change upon death CHARACTERIZED THE RELAXATION OF MUSCLES and loss of their natural tone, so the jaw or head drops down, the thorax collapses and the LIMBS BECOMES FLACCID and the splinters relax.

Answer 28

STAGE OF PRIMARY FLACCIDITY

Question 29

It is the STIFFENING OF THE MUSCLE OF THE BODY after death due to CHEMICAL CHANGES within the muscle tissue itself.

Answer 29

STAGE OF POST-MORTEM RIGIDITY

Question 30

Conditions Simulating Rigor Mortis:

Answer 30

1. HEAT STIFFENING 2. COLD STIFFENING 3. CADAVERIC SPASM OR INSTANTANEOUS RIGOR

Question 31

— If the dead BODY IS EXPOSED to temperature above 75 DEGREES it will coagulate the muscle proteins and cause the muscles to be rigid. The STIFFENING is MORE OR LESS PERMANENT and may not be easily affected by putrefaction.

Answer 31

HEAT STIFFENING

Question 32

— The stiffening of the body may be manifested when the BODY IS FROZEN, but exposure to warm conditions will make such stiffening disappear. — It is due to SOLIDIFICATION OF FAT when the body is exposed to freezing temperature.

Answer 32

COLD STIFFENING

Question 33

— This is the INSTANTANEOUS RIGIDITY of the muscles which occurs at the moment of death due to EXTREME NERVOUS TENSION, exhaustion and injury to the nervous system or injury to the chest. — It is principally due to the fact that the LAST VOLUNTARY CONTRACTION OF MUSCLE DURING LIFE DOES NOT STOP AFTER DEATH but is continuous with the act of cadaveric rigidity.

Answer 33

CADAVERIC SPASM OR INSTANTANEOUS RIGOR

Question 34

— A muscular change characterized by the SOFTNESS AND FLACCIDITY of the muscles in which no longer responses to electrical or mechanical stimuli due to dissolution of the muscle protein that have been previously coagulated during the stage of rigor mortis. — This stage is ONSET OF PUTREFACTION

Answer 34

STAGE OF SECONDARY FLACCIDITY OR SECONDARY RELAXATION

Question 35

— ACCUMULATION OF BLOOD in the most dependent portions of the body. — 12 hours after death, the post-mortem lividity is already fully developed, and APPEARS 3-6 HOURS AFTER DEATH.

Answer 35

POST MORTEM LIVIDITY

Question 36

Types of Post Mortem Lividity:

Answer 36

1. HYPOSTATIC LIVIDITY 2. DIFFUSION LIVIDITY

Question 37

The BLOOD MERELY GRAVITATES into the most dependent portions of the body but still inside the blood vessels and still fluid in form. This occurs during the EARLY STAGE OF ITS FORMATION.

Answer 37

HYPOSTATIC LIVIDITY

Question 38

This APPEARS during the LATER STAGE OF ITS FORMATION when the blood has coagulated inside the blood vessels or has DIFFUSED into the tissues of the body.

Answer 38

DIFFUSION LIVIDITY

Question 39

The Entire Muscular Tissue Passes Stages After Death, namely;

Answer 39

1. STAGE OF PRIMARY FLACCIDITY 2. STAGE OF POST MORTEM RIGIDITY 3. STAGE OF SECONDARY FLACCIDITY