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Back to the Future - Part 1. The medico-legal autopsy from ancient civilization to the post-genomic era

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Abstract

Part 1 of the review “Back to the Future” examines the historical evolution of the medico-legal autopsy and microscopy techniques, from Ancient Civilization to the Post-Genomic Era. In the section focusing on “The Past”, the study of historical sources concerning the origins and development of the medico-legal autopsy, from the Bronze Age until the Middle Ages, shows how, as early as 2000 BC, the performance of autopsies for medico-legal purposes was a known and widespread practice in some ancient civilizations in Egypt, the Far East and later in Europe. In the section focusing on “The Present”, the improvement of autopsy techniques by Friedrich Albert Zenker and Rudolf Virchow and the contemporary development of optical microscopy techniques for forensic purposes during the 19th and 20th centuries are reported, emphasizing, the regulation of medico-legal autopsies in diverse nations around the world and the publication of international guidelines or best practices elaborated by International Scientific Societies. Finally, in “The Future” section, innovative robotized and advanced microscopy systems and techniques, including their possible use in the bio-medicolegal field, are reported, which should lead to the improvement and standardization of the autopsy methodology, thereby achieving a more precise identification of natural and traumatic pathologies.

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Notes

  1. A pharmacist, on a warm night, drank a bottle filled with mercury. The next morning, he was found dead, with mercury discharging from the anus. The autopsy was performed, also revealing coagulated blood within the heart. Furthermore, a pound of mercury was found inside the stomach.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. Thomas Dewis for his language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Legal and Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Public Health, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Giovanni Cecchetto, Donata Favretto, Massimo Montisci & Santo Davide Ferrara

  2. Institute of Legal Medicine, University-Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

    Thomas Bajanowski

  3. Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Rossana Cecchi

  4. University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Silke Grabherr

  5. Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan

    Takaki Ishikawa

  6. Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan

    Toshikazu Kondo

  7. Institute of Legal Medicine, University-Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Heidi Pfeiffer & Marielle Vennemann

  8. Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Section of Medical Humanities, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Maurizio Rippa Bonati

  9. Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

    Dina Shokry

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  1. Giovanni Cecchetto
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  2. Thomas Bajanowski
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  3. Rossana Cecchi
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  10. Maurizio Rippa Bonati
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  11. Dina Shokry
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  12. Marielle Vennemann
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  13. Santo Davide Ferrara
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Santo Davide Ferrara.

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Cecchetto, G., Bajanowski, T., Cecchi, R. et al. Back to the Future - Part 1. The medico-legal autopsy from ancient civilization to the post-genomic era. Int J Legal Med 131, 1069–1083 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1584-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1584-8

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