Understanding the burden of unidentified bodies: a systematic review

Abstract

While human identification is a crucial aspect of medico-legal investigations, many individuals remain unidentified each year across the world. The burden of unidentified bodies is often referred to when motivating for improved methods of identification, and anatomical teaching, yet the actual burden is somewhat unclear. A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify articles that empirically investigate the number of unidentified bodies experienced. Despite the large number of articles returned, an alarmingly low number (24 articles) provided specific and empirical details on the number of unidentified bodies, demographics and trends thereof. It is possible that this lack of data is due to the variable definition of ‘unidentified’ bodies and the use of alternative terminology such as ‘homelessness’ or ‘unclaimed’ bodies. Nevertheless, the 24 articles provided data for 15 forensic facilities across ten countries of both developed and developing statuses. On average, developing countries experienced more than double (9.56%) the number of unidentified bodies when compared to developed nations (4.40%). While facilities were mandated under different legislations and infrastructures available varied greatly, the most common issue faced is the lack of standardised procedures for forensic human identification. Further to this, the need for investigative databases was highlighted. Through addressing the standardisation of identification procedures and terminology, alongside the appropriate utilisation of existing infrastructure and database creation, the number of unidentified bodies could be significantly reduced globally.

The climate missing: identifying bodies and preventing disappearances linked to climate change

“…Global South countries produce, proportionally, more than double the number of unidentified bodies as developed nations. 10 Between 2003 and 2013, for example, over 20 000 migrants drowned while crossing the Mediterranean, an estimated 60% of whom were unidentified due to difficulties in recovering data from the bodies. 11 This represents both a lack of political will and funding on the part of high-income countries, as well as a lack of resources or capacities on the part of countries of origin to organise coordinated searches or invest in preventive infrastructure.…”

“…But in many contexts in which the marginalised die, this does not happen. Global South countries produce, proportionally, more than double the number of unidentified bodies as developed nations 10. Between 2003 and 2013, for example, over 20 000 migrants drowned while crossing the Mediterranean, an estimated 60% of whom were unidentified due to difficulties in recovering data from the bodies 11.…”