Objective To analyze a knowledge web of the literature published by Journal of Forensic Medicine from its founding in 1985 to 2018, describe the evolving process of forensic science research and explore the research hotspots and frontiers at present. Methods The literature that was published by Journal of Forensic Medicine from 1985 to 2018 was collected and analyzed in terms of elements, such as emerging research hotspots, high frequency keywords, authors, dispatching units, location of institution and funding, by CiteSpace5.3 information visualization analysis software. Results All disciplines of forensic medicine were continually developing and maturing, and the publication volume of the literature on forensic pathology had the highest weight; in research hotspots, the two categories, research and identification each had their own emphasis; as the main source of contributions to the journal, research institutes accounted for 38.99% of the total number of publications; Shanghai ranked first among all regions with 1 046 articles published. The number of funded articles was generally on the rise, with the number of funded articles published largest in 2015. Conclusion As an authoritative academic journal in the field of forensic science in China, Journal of Forensic Medicine carries the development of forensic science and witnesses the institutional reform of universities and colleges, and offers a wide range of communication and cooperation in terms of technicality and application. Many scholars and scientific research institutions have gained progress continually in various research directions in the form of teamwork; and emerging research hotspots will continue to play a huge role in future practical applications.
Bibliometrics ; China ; Forensic Medicine/statistics & numerical data* ; Forensic Pathology ; Forensic Sciences

The aim of this project was to use 3D scanning data collected at incident scenes and various evidence to 1) develop surveying methods based on 3D data consisting of overall and detailed scene evidence, captured by long-range and micros-canner, which can be shared by personnel working in different fields such as forensic medicine, video analysis, physical analysis, traffic engineering, and fire investigation; 2) create digital storage for human skeletons and set the foundation for virtual anthropology; and 3) improve the credibility of 3D evidence by virtual remodeling and simulation of incident scenes and evidence to provide a basis for advanced and high-tech scientific investigation. Two complete skeletons of male and female were scanned using 3D micro-scanner. Each bone was successfully reproduced and assembled in virtual space. In addition, recreating evidence scheduled for invasive examination by creating RP (rapid prototype) was possible. These outcomes could play an important role in setting up the new field of virtual anthropology. Case-specific surveying methods were developed through analysis of 3D scanning data collected by long-range surface scanners at the scenes of vehicular accidents, falls, shootings, and violent crimes. A technique and recording method was also developed for detecting forged seals by micro-scanning the pressure exerted on the seal. Appraisal methods developed in this project could be utilized to secure 3D data of human skeletal remains and incident scenes, create a standard for application, and increase objectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of scanning methods. We plan to develop case-specific 3D data analysis techniques to improve the credibility of analysis at the NFS and to establish a 3D data collection and analysis team.
Crime ; Data Collection ; Female ; Fires ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Male ; Skeleton ; Statistics as Topic

The following is a summary of results in 36 cases of inspection and 2,195 cases of unnatural death accumulated through the medico-legal autopsy up to the year of 1968. The deaths due to violence administered to the head was very common and for the natural sudden death due to diseases of the circulatory system shows the largest number. 1. The numbers of autopsies done for unantural death were 2,159 cases of which 1,377 cases were male and 782 cases female. 2. The numbers of inspection were 36 cases. 3. Injuries leading to the cause of the death were the largest number being 736 cases or 34.1 percents and death due to the starvation was the smallest number being 2 cases or 0.1 percent. 4. Asphyxial deaths were 209 cases or 9.7 percent of the total and drownings were 75 cases, being the largest number among the death. 5. For the deaths due to injury skull fractures and brain injuries were the leading causes. 6. Death from freezing and electrocution were the only examples of death due to cold, burning and electricity. 7. There were 2cases of starvation. 8. Infanticides were 30 cases or 1.4 percents of the total number. 9. Deaths due to the poison were 382 cases of which 11.7 per cents were from drug ingestion, barbiturate being most common. 10. For the sudden natural death 588 cases or 27.2 percents of the total recorded and the diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 145 of the cases. 11. Cause of death, unknown, due to the severe decomposition of the body were 203 cases or 9.4 percents of the total number.
Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Brain Injuries ; Death, Sudden ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Human ; Infanticide ; Korea ; Male ; Poisoning ; Starvation ; Statistics* ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the main causes of medical dispute and the main types of medical malpractice. The related problems were discussed in forensic expertise. METHODS: Forty cases of medical dispute from 2006 to 2008 in our institute were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In 40 cases of medical dispute, city-level hospitals, county-level hospitals, town-level hospitals and private clinics were 11 (27.5%), 24 (60.0%), 2 (5.0%) and 3 (7.5%) cases respectively. The internal medicine departments, surgical departments, gynaecological and obstetric departments, pediatric departments and outpatient center were 16 (40.0%),10 (25.0%), 9 (22.5%), 2 (5.0%) and 3 (7.5%) cases, respectively. The amount of cases from city-level hospitals, county-level hospitals diagnosed by the medical experts as the medical malpractice showed less than that from town-level hospitals and private clinics. CONCLUSION The amount of cases of medical dispute from city-level and county-level hospitals were more than that of town-level hospitals. But the amount of cases diagnosed by the medical experts as medical malpractice from city-level and county-level hospitals were less than that of town-level hospital and private clinics.
Expert Testimony ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Hospitals, County ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Male ; Malpractice/statistics & numerical data* ; Medical Errors/statistics & numerical data* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the main reasons of medical malpractice of fetal abnormalities and to analyze the key points and the ideas in judicial appraisal. METHODS: According to the related laws, regulations and clinical practice guidelines, the medical faults and the contribution degree in 12 medical malpractice cases about fetal abnormalities were analyzed. RESULTS: There were medical faults in five cases. Among them, the doctors did not fulfill the duty of inform in 2 cases, did not analyze the abnormal results comprehensively in 2 cases, did not have qualified medical conditions and normative reports in 1 case. The hospitals needed to take the minor responsibility in 2 cases and slight responsibility in 2 cases. CONCLUSION The key points in the judicial appraisal are whether the doctors abide by the related laws, regulations and clinical practice guidelines in prenatal examination, screen and diagnosis, and whether the doctors realize the limitations of ultrasonic testing and fulfill the obligation of inform.
Expert Testimony ; Female ; Fetus/abnormalities* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Malpractice/statistics & numerical data* ; Medical Errors/statistics & numerical data* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of medical malpractice from different grades of hospitals and to explore forensic investigation strategies in assessing medical dispute. METHODS: A total of 206 cases of medical dispute from 2009 to 2010 investigated by the Department of Forensic Medicine in Nanjing Medical University were selected and analyzed according to fault incidence, fault-prone part, and degree of causality in the treatment. RESULTS: Among the 206 cases analyzed, tertiary hospitals, secondary hospitals and primary hospitals showed medium, high and low error rate, respectively. A majority of medical malpractice cases were distributed in the departments of surgery, medicine and gynecology. CONCLUSION The frequency and severity of medical malpractice in primary hospitals were high, which were gradually reduced in tertiary and secondary hospitals.
Dissent and Disputes ; Expert Testimony ; Forensic Medicine ; Gynecology/statistics & numerical data* ; Hospital Departments/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malpractice/statistics & numerical data* ; Medical Errors/statistics & numerical data* ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To explore the general characteristics of medical negligence in surgery in order to provide the reference for forensic practices. METHODS: One hundred and twelve cases of medical negligence in surgical department were retrospectively analyzed in Fada Institute of Forensic Medicine and Science from 2008 to 2010. RESULTS: The common types of medical negligence cases in the surgery were improper operation procedure (28.57%), failure of consent (26.79%), and inadequate monitoring (22.32%). The results of complications included disability or functional impairment (61.61%), death (31.25%) and transient impairment with no obvious adverse reactions (7.14%). The most common roles played by the medical negligence cases were minor role (26.79%), equal role (19.64%), and slight role (14.29%). CONCLUSION Significant attention should be paid to the operation procedure, consent, and monitoring. It should be cautious to not make assessment on involvement degree of medical negligence.
Cause of Death ; China ; Diagnostic Errors/statistics & numerical data* ; Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Intraoperative Complications/mortality* ; Male ; Malpractice/statistics & numerical data* ; Medical Errors/statistics & numerical data* ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

OBJECTIVE: To study the rules of forensic expertise on medical disputes in obstetrics and gynecology, and the characteristics of medical faults in order to provide theoretical supports for forensic expertise. METHODS: Eighty two cases of forensic expertise on medical disputes in obstetrics and gynecology were respectively analyzed, which were performed in Forensic Science Center of West China from 2002 to 2008. RESULTS: It has been found that cases of forensic expertise on medical disputes in obstetrics and gynecology were increasing year by year, with more dispute cases from municipal (district) and county hospitals than other hospitals. More disputes involved in childbearing and surgery cases. The main reasons of the medical faults were due to defects of medical techniques and managements. CONCLUSION The forensic expertise of medical dispute must focus on the corresponding clinical regulations and whether the doctor fulfill their obligations. Meanwhile, whether there are physician negligence, technique faults and management defects should be investigated.
Adult ; Expert Testimony ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Malpractice/statistics & numerical data* ; Medical Errors/prevention & control* ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Professional Misconduct ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: To synthetically analyse the medical malpractice cases of cardiac death in forensic identification, and to explore the generality and characteristic of cause of death, medical malpractice and assessment of participation degree. METHODS: Totally 52 medical malpractice cases of cardiac death examined in the Xiaoshan Branch Office, Hangzhou Minghao Forensic Judical Appraisal Institute, from January 2015 to April 2018 were collected. The general information of cases, medical institutions and situations of hospital stay, cause of death, medical malpractice and assessment of participation degree were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: In 52 cases, the male to female ratio was 2.25:1, and most subjects aged >50-60. Cardiac death caused by hypertensive heart disease or coronary heart disease was most common （67.3%）, followed by viral myocarditis and cardiomyopathy （13.5%）. There were 24 cases involved surgery, and the survival time after surgery was from 1 h to 118 d with a 7 d medium value. There were 63 medical institutes involved in these medical malpractices. Medical malpractice presented in most hospitals more or less, and the participation degree was >20%-30%. CONCLUSIONS Forensic appraisal contributes to determine causes of death, which not only provides scientific evidence for medical malpractice identification, but also improves diagnosis and treatment levels of medical institutions.
Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Coronary Disease/mortality* ; Death ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Hypertension/mortality* ; Male ; Malpractice/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEThe forensic DNA databases are very important for individual identification. In order to evaluate the genetic markers used for a forensic DNA databases and the compatibility between the manual DNA typing system and the automatic DNA typing system, a testing DNA database should be constructed. Also, constructing a testing DNA database can increase our understanding of the issue for forensic DNA databases.

METHODSA total of 1000 specimens, including samples of blood, blood stains, salvia stains, semen stains, mixture stains and muscle tissues, were collected from the public security bureau of Chengdu. The DNA of each specimen was extracted by Chelex method and analyzed using Amp-FLP technique. A total of 8 STR loci, including D3S1358, D9S1118, vWA, D5S818, D16S539, D8S1179, CSF1PO and D20S161 were chosen and employed for DNA typing. Each STR locus was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction PCR and the PCR products were typed with the polyacryamide gel electrophoresis. Typing DNA was carried out by comparing with a human allele ladder. A total of 8 human allele ladders for D3S1358, D9S1118, vWA, D5S818, D16S539, D8S1179, CSF1PO and D20S161 were made in-house. Managing software of the testing DNA database was designed using Microsoft Access.

RESULTSThe results of DNA typing in 1000 specimens showed that the total discrimination power of 8 STR loci was over 0.99999999.

CONCLUSIONThis study show that a forensic DNA database should be useful for search purpose. The total discrimination power over 0.99999999 imply that in principle there is no identical genotype at whole 8 STR loci between two persons from a population with 10000000 individuals. This means that 8 STR loci used in this study are suitable to construct forensic DNA databases in Chengdu of China. The result of DNA typing can be repeated and the data have compatibility between the manual DNA typing system and the automatic DNA typing system. The data search in our testing DNA database can be carried out using only some loci of the set of 8 STR markers. Also, the volume of our testing DNA databases could be enlarged easily. The implication from this study is that the legislation should not be negligent before establishing a forensic DNA database. This DNA database provides a model for establishing the forensic DNA databases in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Crime ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; Databases as Topic ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; statistics & numerical data ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Prisoners ; statistics & numerical data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics