StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor - Assignment Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the paper “Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor” the author provides the case study, where one of the symptoms that the neighbors noticed was the unstable gait and dragging a foot. The man also complained of headaches on occasions when he talked with them…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.7% of users find it useful
Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor"

Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor According to the case study, one of the symptoms that the neighbors noticed was the unstable gait and dragging foot. The man also complained of headaches on occasions when he talked with them. From the above symptoms, dragging foot and unstable gait may be symptoms of lumbar disc disease. Lumbar disc disease results from a compromised vertebral disc. It may be caused by trauma or just wear and tear over time. During autopsy, inflammation around the vertebral discs may be observed.

Narrowing of the spaces between the vertebral discs could be seen, end plate sclerosis and formation of osteophyte would be observed if radiography was used during autopsy. If the internal structure of the vertebral disc is observed, injury may be observed [Mag08]. It is important to note that the man did not complain of low back pain which can be easily associated with lumbar disc disease. This may be because after a long period, pain from lumbar disc disease decreases and ceases. However, headaches are not symptoms of lumbar disc disease.

Thus, if all three symptoms are considered, then they could have been symptoms of hemorrhage in the brain. Hemorrhage in the brain may be associated with hemorrhagic stroke. During autopsy, intracerebral hemorrhage could be observed through visible bleeding [Shk07] Several days later, the man was found dead by the police after neighbors reported the man missing. He was found dead lying sideways on his bed. His face was hanging down towards the floor. On this occasion, the first observable symptom that was noted was an open wound just above his eyebrow.

The open wound was two inches long and had an undermining of its superior edge. This open wound is termed as a laceration. Suggestively, the laceration was the result of his face directly hitting an object. It can be said that he fell and hit his face against furniture such as the cupboard in the room as he was trying to reach out for something placed on top of the furniture. As Dolinak et al., (2005) indicate, on autopsy, tissue over the bone would be seen to be compressed forcefully over the bone.

This is mainly common on the scalp and orofacial regions because the skull is bony and tissue found over the bone is relatively thin. The tissue bridges that were observed, along with areas of abrasion above the open wound could prove during an autopsy that it was a laceration and not just an incised wound [DiM01]. Tissue bridging is because different tissue components are of varying strengths which results in partial severance of the stronger components. Abrasion above the wound can indicate the direction from which the impact came from.

Apparent black eyes were also observed bilaterally. This signaled that there was blood beneath the man’s skin. Typically, this is termed as “racoon eyes.” Dolinak et al., (2005) state that in instances of basilar skull fracture, blood can move through fascial planes and build up the manifestation of contusion. As concerning blood on his shirt, the blood could have been from the open wound [Dol051] It would have been most likely that the symptoms expressed before his death would have been the result of an intracranial cause such as hemorrhagic stroke.

Later on, a huge stoke may have lead to his fall and death. The trauma observed seem minimal and would not have been the cause of death. However, basilar skull fractures do not simply result from small falls implying that his fall was not just a small fall.BibliographyDiMaio, D., & DiMaio. V. J. M. (2001). Forensic Pathology, Second Edition. Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America: CRC Press.Dolinak, D., Matshes, E., & Lew, E. O. (2005). Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice. San Diego, California, United States of America: Academic Press.Magee, D. J. (2008). Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (Illustrated ed.). St.

Louis, Missouri, United States of America: Elsevier Health Sciences.Shkrum, M. J., & Ramsay, D. A. (2007). Forensic Pathology of Trauma: Common Problems for the Pathologist. Totowa, New Jersey, United States of America: Springer Science & Business Media.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor Assignment”, n.d.)
Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor Assignment. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1652531-forensic-pathology-case-study-the-alcoholic-neighbor
(Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor Assignment)
Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor Assignment. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1652531-forensic-pathology-case-study-the-alcoholic-neighbor.
“Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor Assignment”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1652531-forensic-pathology-case-study-the-alcoholic-neighbor.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Forensic Pathology Case Study: The Alcoholic Neighbor

Addiction problems

Mrs.... Smith was aged 85 and on 28 November 2009 was admitted to hospital with pneumonia.... On 1st December 2009, she was being assisted by a nurse to get out of bed when she slipped on a wet floor and sustained a fractured neck of her right femur.... … This was treated surgically on 2 December 2009....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study

Alcoholism and Debt

In the United States, approximately ten percent of men and three percent of women are actively alcoholic at any time; "'in addition, it is commonly observed that alcoholism tends to run in families, with the prevalent current wisdom being that there is a strong genetic dimension to such tendencies (Mullehey & Sidelar 1993, 496).... That is, had an individual not become an alcoholic, he or she might have been financially successful; instead, the...
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study

Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation

It would be inadvisable to look into Thornhill's case without a fresh forensic psychologist review.... Based on the review provided by the forensic psychologist, it could be seen if Thornhill requires community support or time at a regular detention facility to solve his current problems (Laureate International Universities, 2012)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Case Study

Digital Forensic Incident Response

The paper "Digital forensic Incident Response" provides how IT firms could seek to abide by the instructions and determinants of the job at hand; protecting themselves from legal entanglement and seeking to provide a high-quality output so that the case can be determined upon its own merits....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study

The Emergency Care with a Palpable Tumor

Pediatric Malignancies: pathology and Imaging.... Doctors have the responsibility to ensure the growth of this tumor is minimized.... Because a palpable tumor is so different from other existing tumors, the doctors rush her for medical… The palpable tumor is a tumor that can be palpated or felt by touch....
2 Pages (500 words) Case Study

Forensic Psychology: Landers v. Chrysler Corporation

This case study "forensic Psychology: Landers v.... The etymology of forensic is the Latin word “forensic” which means “of the forum”.... hellip; forensic psychology then is the application of principles of psychology to court processes requiring the specialized knowledge of psychologists.... Treatment of an emotionally traumatized person by a psychologist due to the accident is clinical in nature but testifying on the extent of the trauma or assessment of psychological damage is forensic (Psychology, n....
5 Pages (1250 words) Case Study

Case of Forensic Anthropology

The study "Case of forensic Anthropology" critically analyzes the real case of human anthropology within the forensic aspect.... The best thing will be to come with some forensic expert tomorrow after dawn.... ock knew me as a practicing forensic anthropologist for the last 15 years....
5 Pages (1250 words) Case Study

Forensic Evidence Admissibility

This work called "forensic Evidence Admissibility" describes the particular case with the aspect of admissibility of forensic evidence.... The author outlines the HGN test evidence, the standards for admissibility, the application of the laws formulated by the Oregon State in regards to the evidentiary use of HGN tests....
7 Pages (1750 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us