Post-Mortem On A Shaken Baby Syndrome Autopsy
Author:
F. Edward Yazbak, M.D.
Introduction:
At a clinical pathological conference, a resident usually reviews
the history and findings of a case, the radiologist describes the
imaging studies, and the department chief leads a small discussion.
The conference is then turned over to the pathologist who in a few
minutes describes the autopsy findings and announces the actual
diagnosis. As we file out of the hall, we are all quite confident that
we know exactly what happened to the patient.With an autopsy, the
diagnosis is final, and the conclusions cannot be questioned.
Those of us who examine medical records and testify in shaken
baby syndrome (SBS) cases have at times been surprised and even
shocked at some of the autopsies we have recently reviewed. One
such autopsy sent an innocent man to jail for 7 years, and
surprisingly helped to set him free.
Conclusions
Testimony by pathologists about autopsy results can help
condemn innocent persons to life imprisonment or even death. The
autopsy table is accepted as the altar of truth by physicians and
courts alike.Yet, as this case shows, medical examiners are fallible,
and autopsy reports must always be analyzed critically.
Minor errors such as mistaking the childs race may seem
immaterial, but signify the lack of meticulous care that should be
demanded when life and liberty are at stake. Such errors raise the
possibility that the body being examined was misidentified.
It is possible that these seemingly immaterial but indisputable
errors helped to get the case opened for review, so that egregious
failures to obtain all pertinent information and to consider all
possible diagnoses were ultimately revealed.
Further contents include the Summary Of Events and Errors And Omissions. To view the full PDF version of this article please see source below.
Source:
Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons
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