Paediatric Forensic Medicine and Pathology

522 Pages·1989·17.129 MB·English

by  Cyril H. Wecht, Glenn M. Larkin (auth.), J. K. Mason CBE, MD, LLD, FRCPath, DMJ (eds.)

Paediatric Forensic
Medicine and
Pathology
This book is dedicated to
the memory of those invited
contributors who died during
its preparation
DOUGLAS BAIN,
paediatric pathologist
HUGH JOHNSON,
forensic pathologist
and
J0RGEN VOIGT,
forensic pathologist.
Paediatric Forensic
Medicine and
Pathology
Edited by
J.K. Mason
Regius Professor (Emeritus) of Forensic Medicine
Faculty of Law, Old College
University of Edinburgh
Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V.
© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Chapman and HaU in 1989
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover Ist edition 1989
ISBN 978-0-412-29160-9 ISBN 978-1-4899-7160-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4899-7160-9
An rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced, or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Paediatric forensic medicine and pathology.
1. Forensic medicine
1. Mason, J.K. ijohn Kenyon), 1919-
614'.1
ISBN 978-0-412-29160-9
Library of Congress Cataloging in
Publication Data available
Contents
Contributors viii
Preface xii
PART ONE INTRODUCTION
1 The role of the expert witness in paediatric forensic practice 3
Cyril H. Wecht and Glenn M. Larkin
PART TWO FORENSIC MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY
2 Genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis 21
].A. Raeburn
3 Intoxication in utero 37
Eunice]. Larson
4 The examination of stillbirths 48
W.J.A. Patrick
5 The post-mortem examination of a baby 72
John L. Emery
6 The identification of the dead abandoned baby 85
Richard C. Froede and Thomas E. Henry
7 Paediatric forensic odontology 100
A. Introduction and identification 100
Bernard G. Sims
B. The dentist's role in non-accidental injury cases 115
D. K. Whittaker
8 Withdrawing from invasive neonatal intensive care 131
Ian A. Laing
9 The epidemiology and sociology of the sudden infant death syndrome 141
Jean Golding
vi Contents
10 The pathology of the sudden infant death syndrome 156
J.M.N. Hilton
11 Causes of sudden natural death in infancy and childhood 165
C.L. Berry
12 Concealment of birth, child destruction and infanticide 178
D.A.Ll. Bowen
13 Post-mortem biochemistry of blood and vitreous humour in paediatric
practice 191
John I. Coe
14 Physical abuse of children 204
John Pearn
15 Incest and other sexual abuse of children 221
W.D.S. McLay
16 The emotional abuse of children 242
Ann Gath
17 Poisoning in children 256
A. T. Proudfoot
18 The autopsy in the non-accidental injury syndrome 269
Bernard Knight
19 Radiological aspects of child abuse 288
K. T. Evans and G.M. Roberts
20 Accidental injury and death in children 307
Alan W. Craft
21 Death resulting from paediatric surgery and anaesthesia 319
Kent Mancer
22 Parentage testing 338
Barbara E. Dodd
23 Medicolegal implications of HIV infection in childhood 351
Layinka M. Swinburne
PART THREE LEGAL ASPECTS
24 Legal implications of modern reproductive techniques 367
J.K. Mason
25 Comparative abortion law; the living abortus 381
Bartha M. Knoppers
26 Actions for wrongful life 398
Barry R. Furrow
Contents vii
27 The investigation and certification of paediatric death 410
A. In the United Kingdom 410
R.M. Whittington
B. In the United States 419
Boyd G. Stephens
28 Parental rights and consent to medical treatment of minors 428
David W. Meyers
29 The law protecting children 441
A. In the United Kingdom 441
Elaine E. Sutherland
B. In the United States 454
Harold L. Hirsh
PART FOUR ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
30 Research and experimentation involving children 469
R.A.McCall Smith
31 Modern paediatric practice: an ethical overview 480
R.S. Downie
Appendix A List of cases 491
Appendix B Table of statutes 495
Appendix C Standard growth charts 499
Appendix D Fetal foot length and sitting height 501
Index 503
Contributors
Berry, C.L., MD, PhD, FRCPath. Professor of Morbid Anatomy, The London
Hospital Medical College. Address: Department of Morbid Anatomy, The
London Hospital, London, England E11BB
Bowen, D .A. Ll., MA, MB, FRCP, FRCP(EJ, FRCPath, DMJ. Professor of Forensic Medicine,
Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School. Address: Department of
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road,
London, England W6 8RF
Coe, John 1., MD, FCAP. Professor of Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical
School; formerly, Chief of Pathology and Medical Examiner, Hennepin County
Medical Center, Minneapolis. Address: Medical Examiner's Office, 730 S. 7th
Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, USA
Craft, Alan W., MD, FRCP. Consultant Paediatrician. Address: Department of
Child Health, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, England NE14LP
Dodd, Barbara E., MSc, PhD, DSc. Professor (Emeritus) of Blood Group Serology in
the Department of Haematology and Honorary Adviser to the Department of
Forensic Medicine. Address: The London Hospital Medical College, Turner
Street, London, England E1 2AD
Downie, R.S., MA, BPhil, FRSE. Professor of Moral Philosophy and, currently,
Stevenson Lecturer in Medical Ethics, University of Glasgow. Address:
Department of Philosophy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland G12 8QQ
Emery, John L., MD, FRCPath, DCH. Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Pathology,
currently Honorary Lecturer in Paediatrics, University of Sheffield. Address:
Wolfson Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Sheffield, 312 Fulwood
Road, Sheffield, England S10 3BN
Evans, K. T., FRCP, FRCR. Professor of Diagnostic Radiology in the University of
Wales College of Medi~ne. Address: Department of Diagnostic Radiology,
University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales CF44XN
Froede, Richard C., MD. Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces
Institute of Pathology; lately, Chief of Forensic Sciences, Department of
Contributors ix
Pathology, University of Arizona. Address: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology,
Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA
Furrow, Barry R., JD. Professor of Law, Widener University School of Law.
Address: PO Box 7474, Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
Gath, Ann, DM, FRCPsych, DCH. Consultant in the Psychiatry of Mental Handicap in
Childhood and Adolescence, The Maudsley and Bethlem Hospitals; formerly,
Consultant Child Psychiatrist, West Suffolk Hospital. Address: Hilda Lewis
House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, Kent, England
Golding, M. Jean, MA, PhD. Wellcome Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Child Health at the University of Bristol; Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Paediatric
and Perinatal Epidemiology. Address: Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital
for Sick Children, Bristol, England BS2 8BJ
Henry, Thomas E., MD. Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, County of Pima;
Assistant Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Arizona. Address:
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA
Hilton, J.M.N., MB, BCh, FRCPA. Chief Forensic Pathologist, State Health
Laboratory Services, Western Australia. Address: Forensic Pathology
Department, State Health Laboratory Services, Box F312, GPO Perth, Western
Australia 6001
Hirsh, Harold, MD, JD, FCLM. Distinguished Visiting Professor, George
Washington University; Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine;
Diplomate, American Board of Legal Medicine; Editor-in-Chief, TRAUMA;
President Elect, American College of Legal Medicine. Address: 2801 New Mexico
Avenue NW, # 1009, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Knight, Bernard, MD, MRCP, FRCPath, DMJ, Barrister. Professor of Forensic
Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine. Address: Institute of
Pathology, Royal Infirmary, Cardiff, Wales CF21SZ
Knoppers, Bartha M., Doctor en Droit (Paris), DLS (Cantab), DEA (Paris), BCL, LLB (McGill),
MA (University of Alta), BA (McMaster University). Assistant Professor of Law, University of
Montreal. Address: Faculte de Droit, 3101 Chemin de la Tour, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada H3C 3J7
Laing, Ian A., MA, MB, BCh, MRCP. Consultant Neonatologist, Lothian Health
Board. Address: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Simpson Memorial Maternity
Pavilion, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 9EF
Larkin, Glenn M., MD. Consultant in Forensic Pathology; formerly Chief
Deputy Coroner, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and Medical Examiner,
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Address: 4000-E Providence Road,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28111-4406, USA
Larson, Eunice J., MD. Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology,
University of California School of Medicine, Irvine. Address: Memorial Medical