Child Abuse by Drowning

Griest, Karen

doi:10.1201/9781420073010.ch5

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Infant mortality associated with water birth, a method of planned delivery in an aqueous environment to ease maternal delivery, is reported and an additional consideration in the workup (77). Owing to the inherent physical disparity between a caretaker and an infant or small child, child abuse by homicidal drowning or in conjunction with blunt force trauma or asphyxia must be considered (20). Corroboration of findings with any statements given by the mother or other witnesses is necessary for proper interpretation and determination of cause and manner of death (78).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A history of psychiatric illness and the postmortem detection of variable levels of psychiatric medications and ethanol has been reported (16). While a number of small case series and case reports of adult, child, and infant homicidal drownings exist (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), studies examining characteristics of large numbers of homicidal drownings (specifically homicide by drowning) are sparse. Its occurrence has, nevertheless, been noted to be far less common overall as compared to drownings by other manners of death, or even other types of homicidal asphyxial deaths such as strangulation.…”

Section: Invited Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review

Armstrong

Erskine

2018

Academic Forensic Pathology

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Drowning, which typically involves a watery environment, remains a serious public health concern claiming an estimated 362 000 lives per year worldwide across all socioeconomic classifications and has remained under close observation by the World Health Organization and its signatories. A significant number of water-related deaths are attributed to accidental drowning, while a smaller but still significant number represent suicidal or homicidal drowning. Others involve a combination of drowning precipitated by injury, intoxication, or environmental extremes. Still others involve victims that die from injury, intoxication, or a natural disease entity of such significance as to preclude the drowning process, while near or in water. While there may be an initial presumption that all water-related deaths are accidental drownings, other possibilities must be considered in the investigation of these types of deaths, as drowning as a cause of death is a diagnosis based on the exclusion of other potential causes. The coordinated investigative efforts of multiple agencies and disciplines are required not only for the designation as drowning as the cause of death but also for death certification. The ongoing analysis and dissemination of data generated from all levels of investigation augment our understanding of the impact on public health and safety, guiding allocation of monetary and educational resources in an effort to prevent further mortality and disability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Invited Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review

Armstrong

Erskine

2018

Academic Forensic Pathology

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“…When the victim of homicidal drowning is a child, there may be no or few signs of violence, such as bruising or abrasions, due to the difference in size between the assailant and the victim. Drowning of a child may also be the result of fatal child abuse [3]. Nixon and Pearn [4][5][6] wrote papers in 1977 describing the characteristics of accidental and non-accidental immersion of children in bath water.…”

Section: Figure Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Usually, more than one child were present in the tub, and typically the oldest left the youngest, at a time with no adequate adult supervision. Birth into a toilet or the drowning of a new-born child in cases of concealed pregnancy are seen occasionally [7,3]. These cases necessitate careful investigation of the scene.…”

Section: Figure Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Homicide by drowning

Leth¹

2019

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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Homicide of a child by drowning occurs occasionally, but it is much rarer that an adult is murdered in this way. When the victim is a child, there will often be few or no signs of violence due to the difference in size between the assailant and the victim; however, evidence of a struggle is often found in adults, unless the victim was incapacitated by alcohol, drugs or physical weakness or was unexpectedly pushed into or dragged under water. The incidence of undetermined manner of death is high in bodies retrieved from water. Therefore, a thorough investigation is needed. We have reviewed the literature regarding homicidal drowning.

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The Forensic Pathology of Drowning and Pulmonary Overexpansion Injury

Caruso

2013

Academic Forensic Pathology

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Drowning deaths are commonly seen in most forensic pathology practices. Experienced forensic pathologists perform autopsies and assign a cause and manner of death in such cases as a matter of routine. Deaths due to pulmonary overexpansion injury and subsequent air embolism are far less common and typically involve individuals who have been breathing compressed gas at depth, generally SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) divers. This review outlines the pathophysiological basis of these two forensic pulmonary issues and recommends an approach to performing and interpreting the results of a forensic autopsy when faced with such cases.

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Child Abuse by Drowning

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review

Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review

Homicide by drowning

The Forensic Pathology of Drowning and Pulmonary Overexpansion Injury

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