expressions

This entry contained scripting, which has been removed for your safety. Click here to see the entry in its entirety.

This entry contained scripting, which has been removed for your safety. Click here to see the entry in its entirety.

MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF IDENTIFICATION

- determination of the individuality of a person

In Legal Medicine, the practice of identification a person is quite important. For one, it helps ascertain the identiy of the offender or the victim in criminal prosecutions. Likewise, it aids in the settlement of one’s estate, retirement or insurance proceeds. Through identification, problems regarding the determination of the next of kin are resolved.

As it is a science, there are certain rules to be followed in personal identification.

1. The Law of multiplicity of evidence - This means that the greater number of similarities obtained is the better.

2. The different points of identification have corresponding values or weight – Ex. moles or visual recognition of relatives are of lesser value than fingerprints or dental records.

3. The longer the interval between time of death and identification, the more experts are needed in establishing the identity.

4.Time is of the essence – the team must act soon because it is perishable.

5. No rigid rule in the procedure of identification of the person.

There are two Methods of identification. First, by comparison of evidence found in the crime scene and file on record. Second method is by exclusion.

The following are ordinary methods of identification:

1. Characteristics which may easily be changed: growth of hair or beard;                    ) grade of profession  

b) clothing                                        e) body ornamentations

c) frequent place of visit

2. Characteristics that may not be easily be changed: mental memory                          f) hands and feet

               b) speech                                       g)  complexion

               c) gait                                             h) changes in the eyes

               d) mannerism                                 i) facies

               e) handedness-left /right                j) degree of nutrition 

There are also points of identification applicable to both living and dead before onset of decomposition. These are Occupational marks, Race: Malay:brown, flat nose round face, Round head, Wearing apparel; Stature: Tatoo marks; Deformities, Birth marks, moles,     scars; Tribal marks, Sexual organs, blood exam             

ANTHROPOMETRY – the method of utilizing anthropometrical measurement of the human body for identification, also proved helpful because accordingly Human skeleton is unchangeable after 20 years and No two human beings have exactly the same bones.

Extrinsic factors are also helpful in identification, such as the ornamentation, personal belongings, wearing apparel, foreign bodies, identification by close friends, police records, photographs

There are however established scientific methods of identification. These are:

a.     Fingerprinting

b.     Dental identification

c.     Handwriting

d.     Identification of skeleton

e.     Determination of Sex, Age

f.      Identification of blood, blood stains

g.     Identification of hair, fibers

FINGERPRINTING is the most valuable method of identification. This is because         there are no two identical fingerprints and because it is not changeable as long as the dermis of the bulbs of the finger is not completely destroyed. The use of fingerprint is pratically helpful in the Identification of dead bodies, in the prints recovered at crime scenes, as well as a a substitute for signature.

DENTAL IDENTIFICATION also proves helpful because the possibility of 2 persons to have the same is remote. The enamel is also the hardest substance of the body, it outlasts other tissues hence a good source of identity.

The HANDWRITING is also useful. It consists of Graphology – the study of handwriting for the purpose of determining the writers personality, character and aptitude and BIBLIOTIC or the Science of handwriting analysis. Handwriting study and analysis is practically useful in resolving financial crimes, Death investigation, Robberries,Kidnapping with ransom notes, anonymous threats and in Falsification of documents cases.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE SKELETON is another helpful means. It uses the human body’s bones in identifying the deceased.  Determination of the Sex can also be done through the bones such as

•           a. Pelvis

•          b. Skull

•          c. Sternum

•          d. Femur

•          E. Humerus

Race can likewise be determined through the bones but this is rather difficult because of the amalgamation of races..

Aside from the size of the bones and dental examination , the age of a person to whom the skeleton belongs may be determined by: 1. Appearance of the ossification centers

•          2. Union of the bones and Epiphyses

•          3. Dental identification

•          4. Obliteration of cranial sutures

Determination of the Duration of the Interment or the  period from the time of death up to the time of examination may also be determined by the

•          1. nature and presence of soft tissues

•          2. the degree of erosion of the bones.

Sex determination is also important is this

1.     As an aid in identification

2.      To determine whether an individual can exercise certain obligations vested by law to one sex only.

3.     Marriage or the union of a man and a woman.

4.     Rights granted by law are different to different sexes.

5. There are certain crimes wherein a specific sex can only be the offender or victim.

This entry contained scripting, which has been removed for your safety. Click here to see the entry in its entirety.

Fumbling in the dark, I found my phone sending off a familiar music atop my study table. It was the alarm and I had to turn it off at once lest it would wake up the whole house. When I snoozed it off, I saw it was five o’ clock in the morning and my thoughts suddenly drifted to the dream that I just had. It was still fresh in my mind. Perhaps, I was still dreaming when the alarm went off.

My dream was about my mom. It’s been a while since I last dreamt about her. Although the pain of realizing that she’s already gone batters me after, it’s always a delight to be at least reunited with her even in my dreams. The setting was not heaven but I saw vividly the beautifully colored yellow and orange buildings. It felt like visiting a new place – a more rural like community. To me, it felt like I was visiting beautiful Palawan – laid back but beautiful. I think mom lived there, and I even met new friends in the place aside from her. End of the story was the scene where I talked with Mama about the possibility of me finding a job there. She told me that she thinks there was one in the local beauty shop. In my dream, I had the impression that I had a better job awaiting for me in my place of origin but I was somewhat like expressing to mom my desire to even trade all these and all of life’s luxuries just to be able to be with her in her new place for good.

My dream ended in a scene where I was like carrying Mama in my arms, avoiding snares or traps on the floor of the building where I “somewhat” knew she would fall and die. I was wondering when I woke up how could it be possible to be carrying her like a child when she was bigger than me. All I could remember was my fervent desire to carry her, hold her tight, because I didn’t want her to be harmed and because I did not want her to die and go. That was when the alarm sounded.

I reached for my Bible Diary thereafter and opened it to today’s reading, September 15.

Heb 5, 7-9 / Jn 19, 25-27 (or Lk 2, 33-35) says:

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleopas and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took hereinto his home.”

Musings:

Today, the Church honors the woman at the foot of the Cross – Mama Mary. The reading today is a fitting reminder of Mary’s participation in the sacrifice of Jesus. Mama Mary had been witness to the suffering and death of Jesus. We can only imagine how she was terrified and was able to bear seeing that the child she lovingly gave birth to and took care of was slowly being killed. Like all mothers who all wish our wellness and happiness, seeing us suffer or dying in our miseries is perhaps one of the most painful sights for them. They may not let us know because perhaps they want to make us feel that they are the anchors we can cry and depend on but deep inside, for sure, our suffering is twice as much killing them. Have we been sensitive to their sufferings? Have we given them much thought lately? Have we shown to them how they are needed and wanted in our lives, how willing we are to even carry them around (as the silly imagery in my dream suggests) just for us to keep them?

Today, let us not forget to ruminate on the seven sorrows of Mary: 1) the presentation of Jesus in the temple, 2) the flight into Egypt, 3) the loss of Jesus in Jerusalem, 4) the meeting of Jesus and Mary on the way to Calvary, 5) the crucifixion of Jesus, 6) the taking down of Jesus’ body from the cross, 7) the burial of Jesus.

I opened the Bible today after the longest time that I haven’t been reading and today’s reading struck me as it’s quite apt for my present dilemma.

John 3, 13-17: No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. So that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God id not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

We all have our crosses to bear – difficult situations, other people, our sickness, even ourselves such our own disabilities, weaknesses and fears. Most often, we allow these crosses to destroy us, instead of triumphing over them. Unlike us, Jesus carried his cross gladly. In fact, He destroyed death through the cross and rose beyond it. We too can share in this victory.

Someone asked me last night if I am ever happy with the way my life turned out. Yes, when I look back, I’d say that there had been so much difficulties -- the worst, I guess, was losing my mom. Some of the difficulties I went thru were self-inflicted, some were beyond my control. What was common in those situations though was my constant reluctance to get involved in them. Human as I am, I do not wish to undergo any difficulty. Yet once I got there, once I let loose control of the rope and lift up the problem to God, I was able to manage to deal with the problem. Now, when I look back, I cannot feel any grain of regret. It is because no matter how bad the situations were, each of them had been of help to me. In each of them, I had grown through it. I have become better and thus, I know that nothing from those experience is ever wasted.

Frequently a time of trial or adversity is an occasion where growth can occur. God shows concern on us through them. God shows concern for humanity in having Moses lift up the serpent to cure the people who had been bitten (by life adversaries). The Son of Man is lifted up the cross to draw us, especially those who are heavily laden, poor, sick, broken-hearted, to himself. We may feel the most insignificant person right now or the most worthless but we must be very important to God for Him to send his only Son to save us from our miseries. If God believes so much in us, why cannot we believe in ourselves? Let us accept all our crosses gladly and try to see the Lord’s victory in it for these can become instruments of our healing and growth.

Today is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross but it is really us who has the opportunity to triumph over our life's crosses. We should not waste this opportunity to be able to share in his cross.