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Abstract Background Comprehending the toxic effects of substances co-detected in bodily fluids presents a formidable challenge. The combined toxic effect of carbon monoxide and methamphetamine remains a rarely discussed issue within the realm of scholarly literature. The main objective of this research is to delve into the potential intricacies of death mechanisms, unraveling the profound impact of both CO and methamphetamine on the heart. Case presentation The cause and mechanism of death of a young man with toxic levels of CO–Hb and low-dose methamphetamine in his bloodstream were discussed in conjunction with the literature in this study. Methamphetamine levels of 30 ng/mL (0.03 mg/L) and 25.8% CO–Hb were detected in the blood of a 25-year-old individual who was found dead and without any disease. Conclusions Although the amounts of methamphetamine and CO–Hb in the blood were not in the deadly range, it was determined that death occurred as a result of the combined action of these substances. In the present case, it was considered that death occurred as a result due to the combined cardiac effect of methamphetamine and CO, before the lethal blood CO level was reached.

Background:Autopsy rates are significantly lower that what they should be worldwide. Additionally, autopsy practices vary between countries.Aims:To examine the autopsy rates, the distribution and temporal changes of forensic autopsy cases, so as to identify the areas in the death investigation system that require improvement in Türkiye.Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Methods:“Forensic Death Examination Statistics” of the Council of Forensic Medicine (CFM) and “Death Statistics” of the Turkish Statistical Institute were compared and analyzed for the years 2013-2022 in Türkiye.Results:The number of forensic death cases sent to the CFM has increased over time. For all causes of deaths, the autopsy rate is approximately 3.6-4.8%. The cause-specific mortality rates for deaths due to sharp instrument trauma, blunt trauma, occupational accident, undetermined, and poisoning have increased over the years. “The percentage of “undetermined” deaths, which are important to demonstrate negative autopsies, was 14.2% in 2021.Conclusion:Although the autopsy rates have slightly increased in a volatile trend over time in Türkiye, they are still not at the desired level. Thus, it is essential to further raise awareness among all professionals involved in death investigations about the importance of autopsies.

Abstract Background It is difficult to pinpoint the manner of death in cases of death due to sharp force injuries where injury patterns resemble one another. Other issues that might arise include physical mobility and survival time after injury. Within the scope of this case, a 53-year-old male suicide with findings suggestive of homicide is presented, along with research on the nature of sharp neck injuries, survival time, and movement after injury. Case presentation Thanks to the surveillance camera video that captured a significant portion of the occurrence, it was determined that the incident in the case that was presented, which had two perforations of the larynx, was suicide. At first appearance, this case could be assumed to be homicidal. Due to the injury, the victim could only walk around 300–350 m. The victim had a 4-h average survival time. Conclusions In general terms, the survival time according to the injury sites in the neck can be listed for a person (if the wound sizes are close to each other) as follows: injury causing vagal stimulation < arterial injury with severe blood loss < venous injury with blood loss < airway injury causing aspiration and respiratory failure.

Objective:It is aimed to determine the causes of supreme court reversal in the field of forensic psychiatry on Juvenile Delinquents and identifying to issues be considered while preparing a report in terms of compliance with the law.Methods:From website of the Supreme Court https://karararama.yargitay.gov.tr/YargitayBilgiBankasiIstemciWeb/, 691 reversal decisions on forensic psychiatric issues regarding juvenile delinquents were examined by using the words: “child psychiatry”, “child and adolescent mental health”, “child at the age of discretion”, “mental health, child”, “perceiving the legal meaning and consequences, directing their behaviour” and “the child delinquent”.Results:It was determined that the most common reason for reversal in the evaluation of criminal responsibility by age in children (n=208, 36.3%) was the absence of social examination report or forensic psychiatric report, used of reports prepared for past crimes in the trial process, the second most common reason (n=169, 29.5%) was the reports which weren’t prepared duly and found insufficient in terms of content. In the evaluation of criminal responsibility due to mental illness, it was seen that the most common reason for reversal (n=154, 40.5%) was that although mental illness was stated in the history of psychiatric illness, insufficient investigation was carried out on this subject, and that the second most common reason for reversal was (n=130, 34.2%) the decision was made before delegation report was received.Conclusion:The attached template, which is prepared considering the Supreme Court Reversal Decisions, can help to ensure standardization in the prepared reports.It is important for the prepared reports to contain complete, reasoned and clear opinions, to prevent grievances due to the judicial process, and to protect the best interests of the child.

Echinococcosis generally remains asymptomatic for many years, but it can also be fatal if complications like cyst rupture or superinfection occur. It is highly uncommon for a macroscopically non-ruptured cyst to cause death, and its exact mechanism is unknown. In the literature, there are several cases with identical characteristics diagnosed by autopsy. This autopsy case has illustrated the death due to a micro ruptured hydatid cyst. The deceased's lung underwent microscopic inspection, and it revealed broad intraalveolar hemorrhage, edema, severe hyperemia, neutrophil stasis in the interstitial capillary lumens, and a large number of parasites in the capillary lumen. Anaphylaxis against cyst contents that leaked into the bloodstream from liver cysts and non-thrombotic pulmonary embolization were shown to be the causes of mortality. In countries where echinococcosis is endemic, echinococcosis should be considered in all cases of anaphylaxis and sudden death.

As a result of persistent weakening or loss of function of one of the senses or organs, which are stated in articles 87, 89 and 95 of the Turkish Penal Code, penalty increases are applied at varying rates depending on whether the act was committed by negligence, willful or torture. The need for a separate guide has become more evident today, as there are deficiencies in the guide used for the evaluation of these situations, and the existing debates about the charts used to determine the financial compensation recommended to be used to support the guide. The existing problems in the evaluation of the function of the senses and organs also bring the problem of fair distribution of justice. Considering the problems in practice, a separate guide is needed for the evaluation of sensory and organ function, which can be considered as a second-line forensic medical evaluation. Since the definition of organ is evaluated differently in the Turkish Penal Code and in the medical literature, first of all, it will be important to ensure a common language unity in practice, to define all the body parts that will be included in the concept of organ in forensic medicine practices. Including studies in the literature in the guide will provide a more reassuring approach in updating the guide. What are the concepts of organs and senses from a forensic medicine perspective? What should be considered in the forensic medical examination in the evaluation of their functions? In our study, the concepts of permanent weakening/loss of the function of one of the senses or organs will be discussed in terms of legal and forensic medicine and solutions will be discussed by revealing the problems experienced in practice.

Abstract Background It is not straightforward to objectively evaluate the olfactory dysfunction that occurs following forensic incidents. The olfactory event-related potentials method, based on electrophysiological records, may provide objective data in the evaluation of posttraumatic anosmia cases from the medicolegal perspective. This study, where a quantitative evaluation of the cases with the complaints of olfactory sensation disorder was performed using the olfactory event-related potentials test, aims to identify the factors that should be considered in the evaluation of olfactory dysfunction from the medicolegal perspective. Results This study first evaluated the complaints of 98 patients admitted because of posttraumatic impaired smell and then administered electrophysiological odor tests on the patients. Because of this, the relationship between the EEG responses of the cases and the olfactory disorder was examined. Of the 98 cases that participated in the study, 68 (69.4%) were male and 30 (30.6%) were female. Of all cases, 53 (54.1%) had complaints of not being able to smell at all, 14 (14.3%) had complaints of reduced smell, whereas, in addition to the existing complaints of olfactory dysfunction, 44 (44.9%) of them had complaints of taste perception and 18 (18.3%) reported having vision disorders. 21 of 37 cases who reported being unable to smell during the test turned out to be anosmic. Furthermore, 16 cases stated that, though having had a response in the odor test, they had no sense of smell following the test. Conclusions Although it seems possible to prove that there is a relationship between the olfactory event-related potential test and the diagnosis of anosmia, there is still ongoing research on its use in clinical practice. Performing both subjective and electrophysiological tests together to detect olfactory dysfunctions that occur after a forensic incident enable provide more reliable results in diagnosis.

Article 87/3 of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC) indicates that if a deliberate injury causes bone fracture/dislocation in the body, it leads to penalty increase regarding its effects on the victim’s life functions. This study intends to discuss the concept of “the effects of bone fracture/dislocation on a person’s life functions”, considering both the legal and medical dimensions, and it provides solutions to the potential problems by addressing this issue regarding the Supreme Court’s decisions. The effects of bone fracture/dislocation in the legal literature focus on to what extent the fracture influences the victim’s daily life, whether the victim maintains his/her everyday life, whether he/she is able to do his/her job. However, in The Guideline of Evaluating Bodily Injury Offences in the TPC from Forensics Perspective, the effects of bone fracture/dislocation on life functions reflects the severity of fracture/dislocation and trauma. Although the guideline facilitates the standardization in this issue, it has noticeable limitations in legal principle of equality. There emerges a need for scale to provide objective and scientific data about the effects of fracture/dislocation. This research presents several validated and reliable scales to be used in Forensics and offers a method of calculating more than one fracture.

Objective:As a result of using different scales while preparing disability reports, different rates are determined for the same person. Comparing the disability rates measured by the Scales in the annex of “Capacity to Work and Vocational Permanent Disability Rates Detection Operations Regulations (CVPR)” and the Scale in the annex of “Regulation on Disability Criteria on Classification and Health Board Reports to Be Issued to the Disabled (RDC)”, this research aims at identifying differences between the scales, thereby indicating various hardships experts encounter.Methods:The cases’ gender, occupation and trauma history as well as the request letters, the injuries related to the event and the examination findings were recorded forms. After calculating each case’s profit loss rate in profession and disability rate, the components that led to different rates were evaluated.Results:It was found that following trauma, tibial, fibula and vertebral injuries occurred at most. The most frequent sequelas (52%) were a limitation of movement at a joint and a gait disorder. Since the disorders of almost half of the cases (48.1%) identified with sequela in CVPR do not appear in the A Scale, the discretionary power was enacted. Within the scope of RDC, the discreationary power was employed in 5 cases (3.1%). Average disability ratio of the cases (9.01%) appeared to be significantly lesser (p