Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the use of digital photographs in the examination of the dead and living among doctors practicing forensic medicine in Sri Lanka

Edirisinghe, P.A.S.; Kitulwatte, I.D.G.; Nadeera, D. R.

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2020.101995

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Autopsies and forensic cases are increasingly being recorded through photographs, and this practice tends to increase even more as digital photography becomes cheaper and operational procedures become easier [10]. The ubiquity of digital cameras, especially those built into smart phones, have made capturing images easy, accessible, quick and free, offering a spectrum of perception, interpretation and execution [13][14][15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In these cases, the color of the photograph can definitely influence the final verdict [9]. They also need to include the forensic scale, especially in close-up photographs, to estimate their size [10]. A study to determine the quality and nature of photographic images submitted to the National Injuries Database in the UK reported that only 24% were properly labeled with an index, while 64% had no measurement scales [29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quality photographic documentation allows for sharing and discussing the findings with other experts in order to obtain their opinions, thus avoiding the possible need for a second examination of the victim or even an exhumation. It also allows the right of reply, based on the adversarial principle, when there is another expert appointed to monitor the judicial process [8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What Are the Expectations of Legal Operators and Forensic Experts Regarding Photographic Documentation of Violent Death Autopsies?

Valente-Aguiar

Castro-Espicalsky²

2021

Forensic Sciences

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The purpose of photography in violent death autopsies is to document the material evidence of the offense and guide decisions in the courts of law. The aim of the present study was to obtain the expectations of legal operators and forensic experts regarding what is expected as adequate photographic documentation in violent death forensics. For this purpose, a survey was prepared through an online form available on the “Google Forms” platform, whose link was sent by e-mail and by the WhatsApp Messenger® application. The 102 participants were divided into two distinct groups: legal practitioners, interested in the materialization of evidence (judges, prosecutors, criminal lawyers and police chiefs), and forensic experts, responsible for materializing the evidence (medical examiners, forensic dentists and criminal experts). The research showed that the inclusion of color photographs in the expert reports is essential for all research participants, as well as the marking of evidence in the images and the inclusion of explanatory text in the captions. It was also pointed out as fundamental for most participants to insert an image with simulation of the firearm bullets’ path, when applicable. In relation to the other aspects, it can be observed that the opinions of the participants were divergent between the groups of research professionals, especially regarding the size of the image to be incorporated in the reports. The differences found between the groups can be detrimental to the proper interpretation and judgment of evidence in the courts. Considering the found barriers, the authors suggest a form of photographic documentation that meets all expectations in a consensual way.

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