• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.8 no.12
• /
• pp.256-263
• /
• 2008

Based on the analysis of criminal investigators' recognition of judicial autopsy, this study presented policy alternatives as follows. First, a procedure is needed that optometrists and investigators jointly make previous explanations to bereaved families the status of investigation and the results of examination to their satisfaction and collect their opinions, for the purpose of obtaining an agreement to autopsy from them. Second, the dignity of the dead should be kept. To this end, particular consideration should be given to women bodies. Also, we need to minimize the number of autopsy witnesses and obtain agreement from bereaved families when there is an on-the-spot study. Third, we need to establish a guideline that investigators could request a warrant later in certain cases of dead bodies. Also, if a bereaved family positively asks for autopsy, it should be allowed through tentatively named ‘Request for Autopsy.’ Finally, To make a careful decision on whether an autopsy should be made or not, we can form a joint investigation team of public prosecutors and criminal investigators; however, an autopsy should be done only if it is deemed inevitable, considering the bereaved family's opinion.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.30-49
• /
• 2007

An autopsy is a postmortem assessment or examination of a body to determine cause of death or manner of death. The author had surveyed Personnel's perception toward conducting an autopsy in general hospital with autopsy at YeungNam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea from April, to May, 2007. The total number of 286 personnel consisted of 121 men(42.3%), 165 women(57.7%). There were 57 doctors(19.9%), 71 nurses(24.8%), 83 medical technicians (29.0%), 58 office workers(20.3%), and 17 others(5.9%). 61.4% of doctors had an experience of education for autopsy more than 2 times, but nurses(1.4%), medical technicians(15.7%), office workers(1.7%), and others(5.9%) had little experience. Response of conducting an autopsy for sudden death of respondent or respondent's family member was 59.6% of doctors, 22.5% of nurses, 39.8% of medical technicians, 41.4% of office workers, and 35.3% of others. Response of conducting an autopsy for sudden death of respondent's companion was 66.7% of doctors, 33.8% of nurses, 39.8% of medical technicians, 43.1% of office workers, and 17.6% of others. Response of conducting an autopsy for sudden death of patients in general hospital was 50.9% of doctors, 8.5% of nurses, 19.3% of medical technicians, 24.1% of office workers, and 17.6% of others. Survey about a proper institution for autopsy showed 73.7% of doctors for department of forensic medicine in medical school, and 62.0% of nurses, 59.0% of medical technicians, 46.6% of office workers, and 58.8% of others for National Institute of Scientific Investigation. Most of the respondents agreed with the forensic pathologist as the director of autopsy:98.2% of doctors, 94.4% of nurses, 96.4% of medical technicians, 89.7% of office workers, and 88.2% of others. Survey for necessity for autopsy showed responsiveness of doctors, 23.9% of nurses, 47.0% of medical technicians, 34.5% of office workers, and 23.5% of others. Survey for donation of him- or herself after death to the medical school or institution for the death investigation revealed responsiveness of 22.8% of doctors, 11.3% of nurses, 24.1% of medical technicians, 22.4% of office workers, and 23.5% of others. The result of the survey questionnaire showed more negative awareness for autopsy in nurses, medical technicians, office workers, others and than doctors. To improve the negative awareness for autopsy and settle proper postmortem inspection system, education of professional manpower for forensic medicine and inaction of law which is adequate for the actual circumstance of Korea should be considered.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.5-24
• /
• 2008

The necessity for the investigation of death occurred in military services has no differences to the death of civilians. But the death of military service members under the Universal Conscription System in Korea has special considerations because of hard accessibility by the bereaved family and closed environment of the army. The analysis of the death occurred during military service was carried out and the advanced death investigation system to prevent the death was proposed to prevent the declination of fighting spirit and efficiency and also to restore the solid support by the people. The deaths in the period 1995~2006 were 330 persons in 1995, 359 persons in 1996 and were decreased to 135 persons in 2006. The death caused by safety accidents including vehicle accident, drowning, fall were 56% and by military crimes including suicide, arms, homicide were 44%. The numbers of suicides were 108 persons in 1995 and were decreased to 79 persons in 2006. The numbers of suicides were decreased constantly, but the ratio of suicide to death were increased, so the suicide prevention is more important. The autopsy ratio was increased to 51.5% in 2005 and was much higher compared to the ratio for civilians. The main reasons of complaints by the bereaved family were for regaining reputation, death in harness and reinvestigation of death. The proposals for the advanced death investigation system were as follows. The unnatural deaths including the obvious accidental deaths and homicides have to be defined by the rules. The human resources to perform the autopsy can be supported by the forensic pathologists from medical school. The special training and quality assurance programs are needed for the crime scene investigator. To regain the impaired reputation from the suicide and to support the bereaved family has to be discussed by the government.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.44-56
• /
• 2006

The reform necessity of medicolegal death investigation system is continuously issued. The problems from the current death investigation system are discussed, specially on the professionalism of the involved personnel such as policemen, doctors, prosecutors. Death investigation exists not only to prosecute the criminals but also primarily to protect the general public's health, safety, and welfare. The reform proposals of death investigation system are followed as below. Statutes require that the prosecutor be notified of certain deaths. All deaths that may reasonably result from anything other than natural disease should be investigated. A death certificate is a legal document which authenticate a death, therefore it is issued by the doctor. The postmortem examination must be rearranged on the university base and performed by the qualified doctors who are trained at least in pathology. The police officer specified in death investigation and forensic identification should be encouraged to keep doing their special work in many ways.