Legal Medicine - outline

Legal Medicine – that branch of medicine

which deals
with the application of medical knowledge
to the
purposes of law and in the administration
of justice.
Forensic medicine – application of
medicine to elucidate
legal problems. (fora)
Distinction between Medical Dr. &
Medico-Legal :
1) MD sees an injury with a view to cure
it;
medico-legal sees it as a “cause”.
2) MD diagnoses an ailment to provide
treatment;
medico-legal sees it to testify to it.
3) MD usually ignores minor/trivial
injuries;
medico-legal views it as a whole in order
to
deduce what really happened.
4) An MD performs autopsy in order to
learn the
medical cause of death ; the medico-legal
autopsy, while determining cause of death,
is
more concerned with the legal implications
of
the fact of death.
Purpose in studying Legal Medicine : (my
own view) So
that the lawyer may be familiar with the
common
medical words/injuries/conditions which
he will
encounter in practice.
PD 856, Dec 23, 1975 (Sanitation Code)
provides that
Health officers , Med. Officers of law
enforcement
units and medical staff of accredited
hospitals are
allowed to perform autopsies. . Autopsy
required :
when required by law, upon order of
court, upon
request of police, sol.gen. , or next of kin.
Methods of Preserving Evidence :
1) Photographs, audio/video, Xerox etc ;
2) Sketching
3) Description ;
4) Manikin method
5) Special methods : embalming, soft
tissue in
formalin, semen/blood samples in sealed
containers
Methods of detecting deception :
1) Devices which record the psycho-
physiological
response :
a) Use of polygraph : can you compel a
person to take this test ?
b) Use of word association test
c) Use of psychological stress evaluator
2) Use of drugs that try to “inhibit the
inhibitor” :
a) Truth Serum (hyoscine hydrobromide
depresses nervous system)
b) Narcoanalysis or narcosynthesis
(sodium
pentathol)
c) Intoxication .. in vino veritas
3) Hypnotism (not reliable)
4) By observation ; flushing, fidgeting,
behavior
5) Scientific interrogation, catch them in a
lie
6) Confession
1975 Tokyo Declaration forbade medical
doctors from
participating in”torture”.
Identification of Person : hair, clothing,
frequent place of
visit, gait, mannerism, complexion,
ambidextrous,
nutrition, marks, race, stature
Bertillon system of ID basis:
1) Skeleton is fully grown at age 20.
2) No two human beings have bones
exactly alike.
3) Measurements may be taken by simple
instrument.
Portrait parle : spoken picture : verbal
description.
Scientific Methods of ID
1) Fingerprinting : basic types : whorls,
arches loops
and composite. Lifting prints
2) Dental : wisdom teeth erupts by 18.
32teeth
Determination of age .. dental records …
occlosal,mesial, distal, buccal, lingual
surfaces
3) Handwriting : exact signature usually
forged
4) Skeleton : determination of age ..
cranial sutures,
sex (greater sciatic notch)
5) Determination of age
6) Determination of sex : Social, Genital,
Gonadal,
Chromosomal Test (Jeffrey
7) Blood Splatter
8) Blood
a) Blood type table
OxO = O ≠ A,B,AB
O x A = O, A ≠ B, AB
O x B = O, B ≠ A, AB
A x A = O, A ≠ B, AB
A x B = O, A, B, AB
B x B = O, B ≠ A, AB
O x AB = A, B ≠ O, AB
A x AB = A, B, AB ≠ O
9) Hairs and fibers – poison traces
10) DNA – rules of evidence
11) e-Docs – rules on e-docs : fax is not e-
doc (MCC
Ind’l Sales vs SSangYong). Rules re
identification
by proving it was digitally signed etc does
not
apply to criminal cases
12) effect of lighting : can ID a person at
16 yds by
moonlight, 100 yds by sunlight
Importance of determination of death :
Civil personality extinguished ; succession
(Art 43
NCC) ; Partnership ; Agency (except those
coupled w/
interest) ; Criminal liability ; personal
obligations.
Determination of Death :
a. Brain Death : flat EEG, no reflexes
b. Cardio-respiratory death
c. Eclectic : combination of the above
Chronological Sequence of Putrefaction :
12 hrs : Rigor Mortis all over
24 hrs : Rigor absent
48 hrs : Ova of flies; trunk bloated, face
discolored and swollen
72 hrs : Whole body swollen; hairs/nails
loose
1 week : Soft viscera putrefied
2 weeks : Soft tissues largely gone
1 month : Body skeletonized
Kinds of Death
1) Clinical or somatic death
Legal Medicine - outline
Legal Medicine – that branch of medicine which deals
with the application of medical knowledge to the
purposes of law and in the administration of justice.
Forensic medicine – application of medicine to elucidate
legal problems. (fora)
Distinction between Medical Dr. & Medico-Legal :
1) MD sees an injury with a view to cure it;
medico-legal sees it as a “cause”.
2) MD diagnoses an ailment to provide treatment;
medico-legal sees it to testify to it.
3) MD usually ignores minor/trivial injuries;
medico-legal views it as a whole in order to
deduce what really happened.
4) An MD performs autopsy in order to learn the
medical cause of death ; the medico-legal
autopsy, while determining cause of death, is
more concerned with the legal implications of
the fact of death.
Purpose in studying Legal Medicine : (my own view) So
that the lawyer may be familiar with the common
medical words/injuries/conditions which he will
encounter in practice.
PD 856, Dec 23, 1975 (Sanitation Code) provides that
Health officers , Med. Officers of law enforcement
units and medical staff of accredited hospitals are
allowed to perform autopsies. . Autopsy required :
when required by law, upon order of court, upon
request of police, sol.gen. , or next of kin.
Methods of Preserving Evidence :
1) Photographs, audio/video, Xerox etc ;
2) Sketching
3) Description ;
4) Manikin method
5) Special methods : embalming, soft tissue in
formalin, semen/blood samples in sealed
containers
Methods of detecting deception :
1) Devices which record the psycho-physiological
response :
a) Use of polygraph : can you compel a
person to take this test ?
b) Use of word association test
c) Use of psychological stress evaluator
2) Use of drugs that try to “inhibit the inhibitor” :
a) Truth Serum (hyoscine hydrobromide
depresses nervous system)
b) Narcoanalysis or narcosynthesis (sodium
pentathol)
c) Intoxication .. in vino veritas
3) Hypnotism (not reliable)
4) By observation ; flushing, fidgeting, behavior
5) Scientific interrogation, catch them in a lie
6) Confession
1975 Tokyo Declaration forbade medical doctors from
participating in”torture”.
Identification of Person : hair, clothing, frequent place of
visit, gait, mannerism, complexion, ambidextrous,
nutrition, marks, race, stature
Bertillon system of ID basis:
1) Skeleton is fully grown at age 20.
2) No two human beings have bones exactly alike.
3) Measurements may be taken by simple
instrument.
Portrait parle : spoken picture : verbal description.
Scientific Methods of ID
1) Fingerprinting : basic types : whorls, arches loops
and composite. Lifting prints
2) Dental : wisdom teeth erupts by 18. 32teeth
Determination of age .. dental records …
occlosal,mesial, distal, buccal, lingual surfaces
3) Handwriting : exact signature usually forged
4) Skeleton : determination of age .. cranial sutures,
sex (greater sciatic notch)
5) Determination of age
6) Determination of sex : Social, Genital, Gonadal,
Chromosomal Test (Jeffrey
7) Blood Splatter
8) Blood
a) Blood type table
OxO = O ≠ A,B,AB
O x A = O, A ≠ B, AB
O x B = O, B ≠ A, AB
A x A = O, A ≠ B, AB
A x B = O, A, B, AB
B x B = O, B ≠ A, AB
O x AB = A, B ≠ O, AB
A x AB = A, B, AB ≠ O
9) Hairs and fibers – poison traces
10) DNA – rules of evidence
11) e-Docs – rules on e-docs : fax is not e-doc (MCC
Ind’l Sales vs SSangYong). Rules re identification
by proving it was digitally signed etc does not
apply to criminal cases
12) effect of lighting : can ID a person at 16 yds by
moonlight, 100 yds by sunlight
Importance of determination of death :
Civil personality extinguished ; succession (Art 43
NCC) ; Partnership ; Agency (except those coupled w/
interest) ; Criminal liability ; personal obligations.
Determination of Death :
a. Brain Death : flat EEG, no reflexes
b. Cardio-respiratory death
c. Eclectic : combination of the above
Chronological Sequence of Putrefaction :
12 hrs : Rigor Mortis all over
24 hrs : Rigor absent
48 hrs : Ova of flies; trunk bloated, face
discolored and swollen
72 hrs : Whole body swollen; hairs/nails loose
1 week : Soft viscera putrefied
2 weeks : Soft tissues largely gone
1 month : Body skeletonized
Kinds of Death
1) Clinical or somatic death
2)
Slight physical injuries
Musculo-skeletal injuries :
1) Sprain – damage to ligaments
2) Dislocation – physical displacement of bone
3) Fracture
a) Simple - crack
b) Compound- multiple cracks
c) Comminuted – broken in pieces
d) Linear – usually in flat bones
e) Spiral – spiral pattern, in long bones
f) Pathological – due more to disease
Fatality of wounds :
1) Hemorrhage
2) Mechanical injury to vital organs
3) Shock
Complications arising from Injuries :
1) Shock : disturbance of fluid balance resulting
to peripheral deficiency.. caused by a) injury to
nervous system ; b) anoxemia (reduction of
oxygen-carrying capacity of blood ; and c)
endothelial damage
2) Hemorrhage
3) Infection
4) Embolism : air and fat embolus
Healing of wounds :
a. Primary (1st) intention – when there is minimal
tissue loss with no infection. Scab forms 24hrs
b. Secondary Intention – more extensive injury,
scar tissue forms
c. Aberrated Healing .. may result to :
1) Formation of Exuberant Granulation –
granulation may protrude to prevent
closure of wound.
2) Keloid formation – abnormal amount of
collagen. May be hereditary
3) Stricture – contraction of fibrous tissue
4) Fistula or sinus formation – Fistula is
communication between an inner cavity
and the outside. Sinus is a tract of
infection traversing the inner part of the
body.
Chapter X
Rules for examination of wounds:
1) all injuries must be described
2) comprehensive description and
sketch/photograph
3) independent observations
General Investigation of surroundings : exam of place,
clothing, witnesses, wounding instrument, photo or
sketch of scene etc.
Exam. of wounded body : age of wound, what weapon
caused the wound, whether accidental, homicidal or
suicidal.
Exam of living body : if injury is dangerous, if it will
cause deformity, if it will cause shock, if other
complications.
Exam of dead body : if wound post/ante mortem, if
wound was mortal, if death was accelerated by
disease, if accidental or homicidal.
Examination of wound :
1) Character of wound – abrasion, contusion,
incision etc.
2) Location of wound
3) Depth
4) Condition of surroundings
5) Extent
6) Direction
7) Number of wounds
8) Other conditions : evidence of struggle, position
of body, degree of hemorrhage
Determination whether post or ante mortem :
Hemorrhage ; inflammation ; regeneration ; retraction of
edges of wound
Chapter XI
Head and neck Injuries :
1) Direct (coup) – occur at the site of application of
force
2) Indirect injuries :
a. contre-coup – develops at the opposite site of
application of force
b. remote injuries – force applied to parts
which have no relation to head (fall on
buttocks may cause basal fracture of skull)
c. locus minoris Resistencia – injury is not at
site of force but at the path of least
resistance.
3) Coup-contre-coup : (direct and indirect)
combination of injuries
Fractures of skull
1) Fissure – linear fracture, cause by blunt
instrument, radiating cracks
2) Localize depressed fracture – “signature”
fracture, same shape as weapon used
3) Penetrating injuries –
4) Comminuted fractures – multiple cracks = severe
force
5) Indented fracture – indentation of skull, usually
in children, when skull is still malleable
6) Gutter fracture – could be caused by a glancing
bullet
7) Bursting fracture – two fractures parallel to two
points of contact
Trepanation – boring a hole into skull to access the brain
Intercranial hemorrhage – even without fractures,trauma
1) Extradural or epidural - almost exclusively due
to trauma – fracture causes laceration of vessels
grooved at inner table of cranium
2) Subdural – essentially venous or capillary, many
causes… small blood vessels.
3) Subarachnoidal – bleeding into the space
between the arachnoidal membrane and pia
mater of the brain
4) Cerebral – bleeding in gray matter.
Brain :
1) Laceration of brain coup/contre-coup injuries
2) Edema – accumulation of fluid in brain
3) Concussion – blow to head
4) Compression – due to hemorrhage
Face: generally, injuries to the fact heals fast.
Nose : broken nose, fractured nasal bone.
Ear : rupture of eardrum, disorientation, infection.
Mouth : lacerations, swelling.
Neck : abrasions, ligature marks, whiplash.
Vertebral Column and Spinal Cord : C1-7,T1-12,L1-5
Fracture and concussion of spine. S1-5, coccyx
Chest : usually to the ribs , fractures.
Lungs : Hemorrhage, compression, severe pneumothorax
(escape of air into thorax), cerebral air embolism,

c. Blood vessel obstructions (emboli)

4) Histotoxic Anoxic Death : there is supply of
oxygen but tissues/cells unable to use it :
a. Cyanide and alcohol

Phases of Asphyxial Death :

1) Dyspneic phase : symptoms due to lack of
oxygen and retention of CO2 , lips, fingernails
become bluish;
2) Convulsive phase : due to stimulation of
central nervous system by the massive CO2.
3) Apneic phase : due to damage to the
respiratory center of the brain; fatal beyond
recovery.
Classifications of Asphyxia :
1) Hanging
a. Breaking the neck (dropping a distance);
b. asphyxia
2) Strangulation
a. By ligature – hyoid bone usually not
damaged
b. Throttling : manual strangulation -
3) Suffocation : smothering, gagging, plastic bag,
SIDS SUNDS
4) Choking – obstruction due to foreign object in
windpipe : regurgitation of food blocking
windpipe. Heimlich maneuver
5) Drowning
6) Traumatic Crush Asphyxia
7) Irrespirable gasses : CO ; CO2 ; H2S ; HCN ;
Cl ;
Classification based on its action :
1) Lacrimator or Tear Gas
2) Vesicant or Blistering Gas : mustard gas
3) Irritants : chlorine , phosgene
4) Sternutator or vomiting gas :
5) Paralysants (Nerve Gas)
6) Blood poisons : HCN, H2S, CO
SEX CRIMES
Virginity :
RPC definition of virginity : not necessarily a physical
virgin ; just a woman of good repute.
True physical virginity : hymen intact, cannot admit a
finger.
False physical virginity : hymen also unruptured, but
wide and elastic enough to admit two or more
fingers. May indicate previous sexual contact … just
that the hymen distended but did not rupture. No
definite conclusion regarding true virginity.
Demi-virginity : woman permits sexual liberties but
maintains the integrity of the hymen.
Self-defloration : practiced in some African cultures.
Vaginal Canal : generally tight … composed of smooth
muscles and fibroelastic connective tissues. May be
stretched on childbirth never to regain the original
tightness.
Labia Majora and Labia Minora (major and minor lip) :
Labia Majora is the exterior lip and covers the labia
minora and clitoris. Plump women tend to have
more skin and and tissue forming a more ‘closed’
labia while thin women tend to have gaping labia.
Clitoris is the “organ” or a clump of nerve endings located
above the labia minora extending into vaginal wall
whose anatomical function seems to be dedicated
solely to providing sexual stimulus or pleasure.
Female circumcision : practiced in some African cultures.
Fourchette : the V shaped posterior end of the Labia
Minora (originally). With sexual contact (insertion of
penis) it becomes rounded and the edges retracted.
Not a good indicator of sexual activity as it could be
caused by other factors such as horseback riding,
stretching of legs (athletics or ballet).
Hymen may have multiple openings or having no opening
at all.
Intact hymen is not necessarily indicative of sexual
activity. Rupture could be caused by masturbation
without sexual contact with opposite sex.
Things to consider by the medical examiner :
1) Condition of the vulva : normally, the labia
majora and minora are in close contact with each
other and covers the area completely. After
sexual contact, the labia may gape. Again, not a
good indicator of sexual activity.
2) Fourchette : as discussed before, loss of the
normal V shape is not also indicative. It could be
lacerated by penetration, together with the
vaginal walls.
3) Vaginal Canal : after repeated sexual acts, there is
diminution of the sharpness of vaginal
rugositites. Walls will be lax, enough to insert a
medium sized speculum with little resistance.
4) Hymen : is lacerated during the initial act.
However, some are thick and elastic. Child’s
hymen could also heal and return to its original
state.
Medical examination of hymen :
1) General condition : width, thickness, elasticity
2) Original shape of the orifice;
3) If lacerated, must determine degree of laceration,
which could be :
a. Incomplete : rupture/laceration does not
involve the whole width or height of hymen.
Superficial (less then ½) or Deep.
b. Complete : involves the whole width but not
beyond the base of the hymen;
c. Compound : laceration involves hymen and
surrounding tissues ;
Location of laceration : clock method with the fourchette
as 6 o’clock.
Duration of laceration :
1) Fresh bleeding : recent ;
2) Fresh healing with fibrin and edema of
surrounding tissue : after 24 hrs ;
3) Healed with congested edges with sharp coapted
borders : 4 – 10 days old
4) Healed without congestion with sharp coapted
borders : 2-3 weeks ;
5) Healed with rounded non-coaptive borders and
retraction of edges : more than 1 month.
Complications : infection ; hemorrage, fistulae, stricture,
sterility (due to infection).
Death from the sex act :
Male : usually from hypertension, cardiac arrest.
Female : almost never , maybe suffocation/strangulation
Stuck inside : no medical reports yet.
SEX CRIMES :
Rape , Seduction (simple and qualified)
Acts of lasciviousness , same with consent
Abduction (forcible and with consent)
Adultery and concubinage
Prostitution
Corruption of minors , white slave trade , abuse against
chastity
Grave Scandal
Immoral Doctrines
Unnatural Sexual Offenses/abnormalities
Homosexuality
Pedophilia
Zoophilia
Gerentophilia (older women)
Necrophilia
Incest
Satyriasis / nymphomania
Frigidity / impotence
Fetishes
MENTAL DISTURBANCES
Insanity : from sociological viewpoint is the inability to
adapt to the environment due to mental causes.
Legal Importance :
1) Civil code Art 38 : is a mere restriction on
capacity to act ;
2) Marriage : may be annulled when one is of
unsound mind unless they continue to cohabit
after regaining sanity ;
3) Succession : must be of sound mind at time of
execution of will ;
4) Witness to wills :
5) ObliCon : insane cannot give consent ;
6) RPC : exempting circumstance
Factors influencing Mental Disorder :
1) Heredity
2) Incestuous marriage
3) Physical illnesses
4) Emotional distress
5) Toxins
Manifestations of Mental Disorders :
Disorder of Cognition :
Disorder in Perception :
1) Illusion : false interpretation of perception ;
2) Hallucination : false perception when there was
no stimulus ;
Disorder of Memory :
1) Dementia : form of insanity due to
deterioration of brain, but without delusion or
uncontrollable impulse ;
Acute Dementia
Dementia Paralytica : cirrhosis of the brain :
degeneration of physical, intellectual and moral
power leading to paralysis ;
Dementia Praecox (schizophrenia) :
Senile Dementia
Toxic Dementia
2) Amnesia : loss of memory, anterograde and
retrograde
Disorder in content of thought :
1) Delusion : erroneous belief in something which is
not a fact : … of Grandeur, persecution
(paranoia), hypochondria , conspiracy.
2) Obsession : continually occurring thoughts and
impulses
Disorder in the trend of thought :
1) Mania : State of excitement accompanied by
exaltation which is out of step with his
surroundings ;
2) Melancholia : depression
3) Manic-depressive psychosis : alternating states
between mania and depression

Disorder of Emotion :
1) Exaltation : unwarranted well being/joy ;
2) Depression :
3) Apathy : disregard of surroundings (sociopathy)
4) Phobia : fears (Deimos and Phobos) fears of
things, places, situations, illness .. such as
arachnophobia, hematophobia, agoraphobia,
claustrophobia,

Disorder of Volition (Doing) :

1) Impulse or Compulsion : irresistible urge to do
something : such as pyromania, kleptomania,
nymphomania, suicidal impulse,
Mental Deficiency :
1) Idiot : IQ 0-20
2) Imbecile : IQ 20-40
3) Feeble minded : IQ 40-70
4) Moron : higher end of feeble-mindedness
Malingering : feigning disease or injury to avoid a
responsibility/obligation.
Other mental conditions :
1) Somnambulism (sleepwalking)
2) Hypnotism (mesmerism)
3) Delirium : state of mental confusion
4) Hysteria : (off the books)
Drugs and Poisons :
RA 9165 : things to remember
1) Chain of Custody of evidence
2) No plea bargaining ..sec 23
3) No probation to TRAFFICKERS AND PUSHERS
only .. users eligible for probation …sec 24
4) Mandatory drug test Sec 36 (f) persons charged
and (g) candidates for public office declared
unconstitutional by SJS vs DDB 2008
5) PDEA made the LEAD AGENCY in enforcement
(but not the exclusive agency)
Popular Drugs :
1) Opium
2) Marijuana (hallucinogen) – not addicting
3) Magic Mushrooms (hallucinogen)
4) Hashish
5) Cocaine – coca cola
6) Methamphetamines (uppers)
7) Cough Syrup (codeine phosphate)
8) Rugby (solvents)
9) Barbiturates (sedatives) downers

Legal Medicine - outline

Legal Medicine – that branch of medicine
which deals
with the application of medical knowledge
to the
purposes of law and in the administration
of justice.
Forensic medicine – application of
medicine to elucidate
legal problems. (fora)
Distinction between Medical Dr. &
Medico-Legal :
1) MD sees an injury with a view to cure
it;
medico-legal sees it as a “cause”.
2) MD diagnoses an ailment to provide
treatment;
medico-legal sees it to testify to it.
3) MD usually ignores minor/trivial
injuries;
medico-legal views it as a whole in order
to
deduce what really happened.
4) An MD performs autopsy in order to
learn the
medical cause of death ; the medico-legal
autopsy, while determining cause of death,
is
more concerned with the legal implications
of
the fact of death.
Purpose in studying Legal Medicine : (my
own view) So
that the lawyer may be familiar with the
common
medical words/injuries/conditions which
he will
encounter in practice.
PD 856, Dec 23, 1975 (Sanitation Code)
provides that
Health officers , Med. Officers of law
enforcement
units and medical staff of accredited
hospitals are
allowed to perform autopsies. . Autopsy
required :
when required by law, upon order of
court, upon
request of police, sol.gen. , or next of kin.
Methods of Preserving Evidence :
1) Photographs, audio/video, Xerox etc ;
2) Sketching
3) Description ;
4) Manikin method
5) Special methods : embalming, soft
tissue in
formalin, semen/blood samples in sealed
containers
Methods of detecting deception :
1) Devices which record the psycho-
physiological
response :
a) Use of polygraph : can you compel a
person to take this test ?
b) Use of word association test
c) Use of psychological stress evaluator
2) Use of drugs that try to “inhibit the
inhibitor” :
a) Truth Serum (hyoscine hydrobromide
depresses nervous system)
b) Narcoanalysis or narcosynthesis
(sodium
pentathol)
c) Intoxication .. in vino veritas
3) Hypnotism (not reliable)
4) By observation ; flushing, fidgeting,
behavior
5) Scientific interrogation, catch them in a
lie
6) Confession
1975 Tokyo Declaration forbade medical
doctors from
participating in”torture”.
Identification of Person : hair, clothing,
frequent place of
visit, gait, mannerism, complexion,
ambidextrous,
nutrition, marks, race, stature
Bertillon system of ID basis:
1) Skeleton is fully grown at age 20.
2) No two human beings have bones
exactly alike.
3) Measurements may be taken by simple
instrument.
Portrait parle : spoken picture : verbal
description.
Scientific Methods of ID
1) Fingerprinting : basic types : whorls,
arches loops
and composite. Lifting prints
2) Dental : wisdom teeth erupts by 18.
32teeth
Determination of age .. dental records …
occlosal,mesial, distal, buccal, lingual
surfaces
3) Handwriting : exact signature usually
forged
4) Skeleton : determination of age ..
cranial sutures,
sex (greater sciatic notch)
5) Determination of age
6) Determination of sex : Social, Genital,
Gonadal,
Chromosomal Test (Jeffrey
7) Blood Splatter
8) Blood
a) Blood type table
OxO = O ≠ A,B,AB
O x A = O, A ≠ B, AB
O x B = O, B ≠ A, AB
A x A = O, A ≠ B, AB
A x B = O, A, B, AB
B x B = O, B ≠ A, AB
O x AB = A, B ≠ O, AB
A x AB = A, B, AB ≠ O
9) Hairs and fibers – poison traces
10) DNA – rules of evidence
11) e-Docs – rules on e-docs : fax is not e-
doc (MCC
Ind’l Sales vs SSangYong). Rules re
identification
by proving it was digitally signed etc does
not
apply to criminal cases
12) effect of lighting : can ID a person at
16 yds by
moonlight, 100 yds by sunlight
Importance of determination of death :
Civil personality extinguished ; succession
(Art 43
NCC) ; Partnership ; Agency (except those
coupled w/
interest) ; Criminal liability ; personal
obligations.
Determination of Death :
a. Brain Death : flat EEG, no reflexes
b. Cardio-respiratory death
c. Eclectic : combination of the above
Chronological Sequence of Putrefaction :
12 hrs : Rigor Mortis all over
24 hrs : Rigor absent
48 hrs : Ova of flies; trunk bloated, face
discolored and swollen
72 hrs : Whole body swollen; hairs/nails
loose
1 week : Soft viscera putrefied
2 weeks : Soft tissues largely gone
1 month : Body skeletonized
Kinds of Death
1) Clinical or somatic death