Korean J Leg Med.  2017 Feb;41(1):1-6. 10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.1.1.

The Statistical Analysis on the Postmortem Inspection Cases of National Forensic Service Seoul Institute in 2015

• Park JW
• Lee SK
• Yun WJ
• Park JP
• Lee MJ
• Choi SW
• Kim YH
• Park SH
• Kim JH
• Yoo SH
• Lee SD
• Gim JY
• Yang KM
• Choi YS
• Lee HY

• KMID: 2371667
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.1.1

Abstract

Since March 1, 2015, the National Forensic Service Seoul Institute has commenced postmortem inspections at the death scene in agreement with the Korean National Police Agency. Included regions were mainly Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Wide Area 8 (Gangseo, Yangcheon, Guro police stations), and several other areas. In total, 837 postmortem inspection cases from March 1 to December 31, 2015, were analyzed statistically. Of these, 168 were autopsy cases, and the rates were 20% (67 cases) in Gangseo Police, 14.5% (30 cases) in Yangcheon Police, and 22% (57 cases) in Guro Police stations. For 269 cases of "unknown cause of death", the autopsy rates were 44% in Gangseo Police, 36% in Yangcheon Police, and 47% in Guro Police stations. For 82 cases of fall from height, autopsy rates were 17% (n=14). Of the 133 cases of hanging, 121 cases were classified as suicide at the scene with a 2.5% (n=3) autopsy rate. Twelve cases were classified as an undetermined manner of death at the scene with a 33% (n=4) autopsy rate. The distribution of the "manner of death" was natural death for 29% (n=250), unnatural death for 38% (n=318), and other and undetermined manner of death for 32% (n=269) of cases. Proportions of dispatch times were 49.2% (412 cases) during work hours (09:00-18:00), 15.7% (n=131) during evening hours (18:00-21:00), 13% (n=110) at night (21:00-24:00), 10% (n=88) at dawn (24:00-06:00), and 11% (n=96) during morning hours (06:00-09:00). The male to female sex ratio was 1.96:1 (556:281). These statistics are valuable for evaluation of postmortem inspections by experts.

Keyword

Postmortem inspection; Death scene; Autopsy rate; Cause of death

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Cause of Death
Female
Humans
Male
Police
Seoul*
Sex Ratio
Suicide

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