No abstract available.
Acid Phosphatase*

The post-mortem investigation (PI) system in a jurisdiction varies greatly with its lagal and social system and culture. Korean PI system considred as "judical autopsy prime" is not well astablished. To develop our own system, it is neccessary to overview the forensic autopsis performed in Korea. Three hundred forty two forensic autopsies were performed prospectively, every 7 to 15 days among the cases of National Institute of Scientific Investigation (NSI), Ministry of Internal Affairs, during the period from October, 1987 to March, 1989. Cases were those registered to NISI on the author's duty day, not selected or rejected. For each case, autopsy protocols, autopsy reports and police's investigation reports were reviewed. The postmortem hours prior to autopsy were about 60 hours in average, mainly due to the defective PI system. The commonest cause of death(COD) among the natural deaths was the circulatory diseases, followed by diseases f the digestive system. As to the manners of death(MOD), the proportion of the natural deaths was now, comparing to those reported in America and Japan, partly because of our PI system where the public prosecutors determine whether autopsy is necessary on the particular area or not. For the proper application of medical knowledge to the practice of law, the independent institute and qualified specialist for the forensic medicine are mandatory.

No abstract available.
Coroners and Medical Examiners* ; Humans

No abstract available.

Silk is one of the most common sutures in surgical operations, because it is easy to handle and apply the proper tension in tissues. It produces little but appreceable foreign body reaction, when applied in tissues. With 38 tissues from cases of vasovasostomy, who had different time lapsed, the chronological reaction of tissues are made in four stages. It can be a guide for the determination when a silk suture is introduced in tissue. And, there is a general agreement in that, though silk is classified as non-absorbable, it is fragmented and absorbed during a period of years. However, four case over 7 years, where the silk filaments maintain their shape and are still shining, are observed.

No abstract available.

Foreign body reaction of tissues is frequently encountered in routine surgical pathology, whether they contain foreign body or not. Though their presence or identification may be the important clue for the legal problems as in malpractice, and the identification of foreign body will give us the chance for reconstruction of patients' medical history, pathologists often overlook or neglect what they are. Besides curiosity, the description of individual foreign body and common site for its occurence will be of great help. Therefore, we classify and describe the features of 182 foreign bodies collected in practice of surgical pathology during 1979~82.

We present 20 medicolegal autopsies performed at the Department of Forensic medicine, Seoul National University Medical College during the year of 1996. In Korea Postmortem Invesigation (PI) system is not established and is needed greatly provide the basic considerations on PI system, we detailed the cases with impediments to be overcome. Among the 20 cases, 13cases were unusual deaths and 6 cases were natural. For unusual deaths, 7 were by mechanical injuries, four by asphyxia. Test for toxic stance was the most needed part to be solved.
Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Korea ; Seoul

This treatise summarizes the medical facts about the persistent vegetative state(PVS) and the associated issues. In August 1998, the opinions of the 380 neurologists and the 1007 neurosurgeons are inquired about the diagnostic criteria of PVS, the degree and the withdrawal of treatment on PVS patients. The response rate is 18.8%. The diagnostic criteria of PVS is determined by the items approved above 5007o of responses. (1) no evidence of cerebral function and an inability to interact with visual, auditory stimuli and follow commands. (2) maintaining the respiratory function with spontaneous respiration and normal respiratory pattern. (3) spontaneous eye opening and eye ball movements without sustained tracking. (4) variably preserved brain stem reflexes. (5) presence of sleep-wake cycles. (6) (1)-(5) symptoms should be persist for 6 months after the development of vegetative state. (7) the diagnostic criteria of PVS should be applied more than 3 times during the minimum observation period. (8) this diagnostic criteria of PVS could be applied to adults over 7 ages. As to the degree of treatment, nasogastric tube feeding and air-way keeping through the tracheostomy are approved over 9007b. Also antibiotics can be used in infection. As to the withdrawal of treatment, do not resuscitate order of patient s family is accepted by 46.1% in an emergency condition like cardiac arrest. But discharge against medical advice by the patient s family is accepted by 73.107o in non-emergency condition. In the case of neonates, parents decision is more determinative than any other thing.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Stem ; Emergencies ; Enteral Nutrition ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Parents ; Persistent Vegetative State* ; Reflex ; Respiration ; Tracheostomy