>Paul Attwood wrote: An unexpected death I would contend should not be a GP
>problem!! (Ducks
>down) Good article in Pulse a month or two back where some forensic guy was
>suggesting in an era of large Co-ops that the role of the Police Surgeon
>should be extended to include unexpected deaths.
>
Mark Dons police surgeon's hat:
>
>As a deputy PS I have frequently been called to sudden deaths. I think it
>is always useful to have a forensic eye when entering the house and
>examining the deceased. Like most of life there are clear extremes where
>either it's obvious: "Doc he's got a meat cleaver in his head and he's
>stiff". In this case visual inspection from the other side of the room is
>appropriate. Or "Little old lady in bed, found by rellies in morning",
>needs confirmation of death by examination e.g. heart and lung sounds, with
>corneal reflexes tested.
>
>The rest of death is in between. The first is obviously police surgeon
>work, the latter GP.
Yup but can you tell this on the phone?? No chance. Do you have prevous
knowledge of patient in large Co-op. No chance. So do you visit all
unexpected deaths and knacker the forensics in your inexpert way??
>My _advice_ to non PSs is that if you are worried about foul play call the
>police and ask for "Scenes of Crime" officers and duty Police Surgeon to
>attend. If, as frequently happens, there are no suspicious circumstances,
>you will get a bit of gentle ribbing. If, however, it turns out to be
>murder, you will have left your DNA all over the crime scene. You will
have
>to give samples to the police. You will have left fabric fibres all over
>the site and will have to give up _all_ your clothing. And you may well
>have destroyed vital evidence by making your examination.
Yes so serious question attend all cases and f**k things up or send all
cases (OOH that is(1)) to SOCO and Police Surgeon??
Paul Attwood
GP Ramsgate
1. In hours as patient's GP you may well have previous knowledge to enable
you to decide to attend or not.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|