Basal subarachnoid haemorrhages (BSAHs) could be traumatic and non-traumatic. The main cause for traumatic BSAH is rupture of arterial wall whilst theprimary reason for non-traumatic BSAH is the inherentand/ oracquired pathological changes of arterial wall. The current classifications do not meet the requirements of simultaneous accounting of morphological and etiological signs of BSAHs. The difficulties arising within etiological interpretation of BSAH in clinical and forensic practices are discussed.

Background: Basal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by rupture of intracranial aneurysms usually has non-traumatic etiology. However, head injury shortly before death can start legal case, even if aneurysm was found. In such cases, forensic pathologists have to decide on the cause of the rupture and the role of the injury. Case presentation: The article presents a rare case from forensic practice: 43 years old male dies after a head blunt trauma. The death was caused by basal SAH, which was caused by a microaneurysm rapture of the left posterior cerebral artery. The autopsy revealed external damages on the face and focal hemorrhages in soft tissues of the head and back. A detailed analysis of the morphological findings, clinical picture and circumstances was performed. The results showed that it was non-traumatic basal SAH. The cause of aneurism rupture was intracranial hypertension increased by vomiting and unusual body position shortly before the death. Conclusion: Available published articles were studied on the causes of ruptures of pathological cerebral arteries and forensic interpretation in controversial cases. Results suggest that current recommendations should be revised. The hypothesis of the most significant sign indicating unnatural death (localization of the damage in the projection of the brain base) could not be confirmed.

The literature on the definition and classification of expert errors is analyzed. The analysis of 6070 «expert opinions» and «forensic examination of the corpse» is fulfilled. We identify and classify errors forensic activities at the stages of research, analysis and evaluation of the results.

Introduction: The article deals with the criteria, forensic and radiological "life tests", difficulties in assessing the results of live birth and stillbirth of the fetus. An excursion into the history of the development of X-ray, including pre-sectional, examination of the corpses of newborns is made. Cases from the practice of two corpses of newborns which underwent pre-section computed tomography are presented. Case presentation: Case № 1: examination of the corpse of a baby found in a cardboard box on the unheated terrace of a private house after a secret self-birth. Case № 2: examination of the corpse of an infant with massive injuries and the division of the body into two fragments, found on a sorting tape in the premises of the waste sorting shop. Conclusion: Postmortem CT of newborn corpses was an evidence-based and visual addition to the traditional forensic medical study, which allowed even at the pre-dissection stage to speak about the maturity of fetuses, to identify injuries and anatomical variants of the structure, to refute the presence of congenital deformities; to establish and record evidence-based CT signs of live birth and stillbirth.

The article, based on the unique English-language publication "History of Forensic Medicine," edited by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Burkhard Madea, continues the series of publications on the state of forensic medicine in the world, its past, present and future. The first articles of the cycle were devoted to the organization of forensic medical examination of the United States of America, England and China. The current article, together with professors Burkhard Madea, Johanna Preu-Wssner, Gunther Geserick, Ingo Wirth, Eberhard Lignitz, details the development and structure of the forensic expert service in the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany) from its origin to the present. Both the main stages of its development and the modern organizational structure are noted. The main points of teaching forensic discipline at German medical universities, the order of specialization and postgraduate education of specialists are given. Publishing activities and the principles for the formation of professional communities of forensic experts are covered. During the article, the authors conclude that forensic medicine in Germany over a centuries-old history has found the optimal ratio of science and practice in activities, this puts it in the first ranks of the best forensic medical services in the world.