Through an examination and assessment of the body at a death scene, the medicolegal death investigator (MLDI) must be able to recognize circumstances that point to what manner of death occurred—be it natural causes, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined. A handy reference for use in the field and in the lab,
Death and Accident Investigation Protocols
provides 34 checklists and forms to help investigators make these determinations.
Categories of death covered in this guide include:
Aircraft and motor vehicle accident
Alcohol- and drug-related
Blunt- and sharp-force injury
Drowning
Electrocution, exposure, and fire
Gunshot
Hanging
Hospital- and nursing home-related
Infectious disease
Natural causes
Occupational exposure
Poison and toxic substances
Sexual assault
Suicide
Formatted as a convenient 8 ½ x 11 spiral-bound book, this manual helps investigators know what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to categorize the scene and the physical injuries. The forms in the book can either be downloaded, which allows for easy form modification. The text includes descriptive illustrations and diagrams associated with various categories of death. An essential tool for the busy investigator, the book facilitates the organization of information for a myriad of death scenarios.