Criminal Justice - Determining the Cause of Death - Term Paper Example

Criminal Justice: Determining the Cause of Death Abstract: The accurate determination of the cause of death is a vital aspect in the investigation of criminal cases such as homicides. In addition, it also must be seen as a crucial factor in providing accurate data relating to various healthcare problems so that the authorities concerned can deploy financial and other resources appropriately for addressing the issues. This paper examines the significance of determination of the cause of health in the investigation of homicide cases. In addition, it also evaluates the significance of this activity in deciding the allocation of public funds for various healthcare initiatives for intervening with public health problems. Criminal Justice: Determining the Cause of Death Investigation of death is a crucial component in American criminal justice system, which is based on the concept that no innocent person should be punished. Especially in the case of homicides, it is imperative to determine the cause of death so as to rule out natural or accidental death and to confirm the mode of death in order to conduct further investigations. Cause of death can be defined as a disease or an injury that has triggered the “train of morbid events” that have led directly to the demise or the circumstances or actions that directly contributed to the injury, leading to the death (Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook, 2003, p.11). Usually, the medical examiner or coroner is the official who owes the responsibility to determine the “cause, circumstances and manner” of an individual’s death so as confirm whether the event has occurred as the result of an accident, injury or any foul play (The Office of the Coroner, 2007, p.1). Coroners function as independent investigators but often they will have to work with the “law enforcement” officers, medical professionals and other service providers (p.1). The determination of the precise cause of death plays a critical role in all homicide investigations as well in the allocation of public funds, insurance etc and, therefore, the persons responsible for the medical examination need to determine it accurately. Conducting of an autopsy is a significant process involved in the determination of the cause of death in all cases. The procedure of autopsy encompasses the medical examination of a dead individual’s body, which is usually carried out by a medical practitioner who is specially trained for the purpose. Autopsies are normally conducted for both “clinical” and “medico-legal” purposes (Kotabagi, Charati & Jayachandar, 2004, p.258). The main objective of clinical autopsy is to determine the “nature of disease” that has entailed the death so that its pathology can be studied (p.258). The permission of the next of kin of the deceased will be obtained before doing the autopsy and the process includes a detailed study of all clinical records and an examination of “both external and internal” organs of the body (p.259). The physician conducting the autopsy takes note of all the abnormalities as well as the negative findings so as to establish “complete clinico-pathological correlation” with the symptoms and signs of the disease as diagnosed by the relevant clinicians (p.259). In clinical autopsies, internal examination acquires significance over external examination because the former facilitates more reliable information to the pathologist for determining the cause of death. Medicolegal autopsy, on the other hand, seeks to support the police “inquest procedure” as ordered by concerned authorities in the case of deaths involving medicolegal aspects (p.259). When unexpected death of an individual occurs under suspicious circumstances, it becomes necessary to conduct a medicolegal autopsy to investigate into the event so that the cause of death can be determined. This, in turn, will enable the investigators to recognize any element of foul play in the death and the law enforcement authorities can then institute an inquest for the apprehension of the perpetrator. Usually, in cases of medicolegal autopsies, forensic pathologists handle the procedure and they provide valuable assistance to the law enforcement authorities by means of the “application of medical science” in the investigation of deaths under suspicious circumstances (Preliminary Report, 2004, p.1). A systematic investigation of the cause of death by forensic pathologists will enable the law enforcement authorities to identify “undetected homicides” and to prosecute the individuals responsible for the murder (p.8). Thus, it transpires that determining the cause of death is a significant tool in the hands of the law enforcement officers for tracking the criminals in homicide cases. In addition to the advantages of determination of death in the investigation of homicide cases, this process has also several benefits to humans in an overall social context. The funding for healthcare resources is of vital significance to the society in general and, therefore, it has to be used with discretion. Thus, accurate statistics relating to various public health issues have a “major influence” for the appropriate distribution of resources allocated for healthcare (Kircher and Anderson, 1987, p.349). In this context it becomes relevant that government and healthcare agencies rely on statistics deriving from death certificates to identify major public health issues and allocate funds accordingly to tackle them. Thus, it becomes evident that the determination of the cause of death correctly is vital in the proper allocation of funds and intervening with major public health problems. Similarly, determination of the cause of death is also important for the decision making in insurance claims. In addition, different types of assistance from government and other financial grants due to the deceased individuals or their spouses and families are also based on the death certificate, where the medical examiner or coroner has to endorse the actual cause of death. Investigation of homicide cases are a vital aspect of the criminal justice system in the US as well as other countries across the world. On the other hand, determination of cause of death is a critical factor in investigating criminal cases such as homicides, which will enable the law enforcement officers to institute prosecution against the perpetrators of the crimes. Performing autopsy, or post-mortem examination, of the internal and external organs of the dead body, is one of the major tools in determining the cause of death to help further investigation in to homicide cases. The forensic pathologists, who conduct the autopsies, are of significant assistance to the officers who conduct investigations on criminal cases. It is based on the post-mortem report or autopsy report that the law enforcement officers conduct the investigation to nab the criminals that commit homicides. Determination of the cause of death is also significant in other fields also, especially in facilitating data relating to public health problems. Availability of accurate data on such issues will help the government and healthcare organizations to allocate appropriate funding to intervene with various public health issues. In addition, determination of the cause of death is also required for insurance claims as well as other financial assistance and grants from various sources. References Kircher, T. & Anderson, R. E. (1987). Cause of Death: Proper Completion of the Death Certificate. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol.258 (3): pp.349-352. Kotabagi, R. B., Charati, S. C. & Jayachandar, D. (2004). Clinical Autopsy Vs Medicolegal Autopsy. Medical Journal Armed Forces India, Vol.61 (3): pp.258-263. Retrieved July 6, 2014 from Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting. (2003). Maryland: Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from Preliminary Report on America’s Medicolegal Offices. (2004). Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from The Office of the Coroner and Medicolegal Death Investigation. (2007). Laramie County Office of the Coroner. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from Read More