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Examination of the dead from drowning

Drowning examination is singled out as a separate type of forensic medical research and is carried out separately from the general examination for asphyxia. Drowning is a kind of mechanical asphyxia, but in addition to the signs characteristic of death from a lack of oxygen, a number of specific traces are observed during drowning, which are characteristic only of death from drowning. In addition, when conducting a study of the bodies of drowned people, a number of special analyzes are performed. For example, if fluid is found in the lungs of a corpse, this fluid is analyzed to identify it. If a person drowned in a natural reservoir, then in the water present in the lungs, there are microorganisms, the so-called diatoms.

Drowning examination is one of the most complex types of forensic medical examinations. The cornerstone of its implementation in most cases is the question of determining the cause of death – whether it came from drowning or from other causes (death in water). Such death in water often occurs as a result of acute cardiovascular failure. Sudden immersion in water from a height (for example, when falling from bridges or platforms, when jumping into water in places where it is not deep) can result in a fracture of the cervical spine or a serious head injury. If this damage turns out to be fatal, then there will be no signs of drowning on the corpse after being removed from the water. If this injury causes loss of consciousness, then death can also occur from drowning.

The totality of signs observed on the corpse during the examination during drowning cannot be considered absolute. In addition, in some cases, these signs are not detected at all. The correct expert assessment depends on a thorough study by an experienced specialist of the full picture of what happened and is based on the entire set of morphological changes that have occurred in the body of the deceased. This assessment is certainly complemented by detailed investigative data and the necessary laboratory tests.

Classification of drownings during the examination during drowning

Drowning is a type of acute oxygen deficiency that occurs as a result of the blocking of the respiratory tract by various fluids. Currently, in the forensic practice of conducting an examination during drowning, three types of drowning are distinguished:

1. True drowning, which is also called aspiration. It occurs when fluid enters the lungs, followed by the penetration of this fluid (most often water) into the blood.True drowning is found in most cases (65-70%).
2. Spast, or asphy, drowning, which occurs as a result of the reflex spasm of the larynx due to the fact that water falls on the respiratory tract receptors and causes them irritation.
3. Reflex drowning. It is also called syncopal. This type of drowning is characteristic of the primary stopping of breathing and cardiac activity in the first moments after a person getting into the water. It may occur as a result of a reflex reaction when entering very cold water, in the case of an allergic reaction to fluid components. Also occurs in easily excitable, emotional people. It is rare, in 10-15% of cases. Strictly speaking, syncopal drowning is correct to destroy death in water, and not to drowning.

Characteristic features detected during the examination when drowning

For true drowning, the following external signs are characteristic:

• Persistent white-colored foam, fine-pushed, appears near the mouth and nose as a result of mixing water, air and mucus of respiratory tract. Foam is observed for two or three days. After drying, the foam on the skin is formed a thin film with small cells.
• The amount of the chest increases.

When carrying out autopsy in the process of examination, such internal signs of true drowning are detected during the examination, as:

• In 90% of cases, with true drowning, an acute swelling of the lungs is observed. The lungs cover the heart, completely fill the cavity of the chest. At the same time, on the back and side surface of the lungs, edges are visible.
• In bronchi, trachea and larynx is a small-glass foam of grayish-pink.
• Under the outer shell of the lungs (pleural) there are reddish-pink hemorrhages with unfinished contours.
• The liquid in which drowning occurred is in the sinus of the main (wedge-shaped) skull bone,
• The liquid in which the drowning occurred is present in the stomach, as well as in the initial division of the small intestine.

With asphyned drowning during the study, features characteristic of mechanical asphyxia are found, both external and internal. In addition, in the sinus of the main (wedge-shaped) bone of the skull is fluid in which drowning occurred.

There are no specific features in synicopal drowning. However, there may be general phase signs.

Analysis of damage on the body of the deceased during the examination when drowning

If any damage was discovered on the body of the deceased, a specialist for conducting an examination during drowning must necessarily set the following data:

1. The origin of the damage.
2. Lifting (or postmone) their character.

These signs are established regardless of the true cause of death, as they can have substantial assistance to the investigation.

Most often, injuries are caused by drowning (drowned) as follows:

• As a result of contact with the propellers of water transport.
• When hitting the bottom and various objects in the water. Most often they occur when the body is dragged by the current.
• When pulling a corpse out of a reservoir with the help of improvised means (poles, hooks, etc.).
• As a result of eating a corpse by animals living in the water.

Signs of a body being in water

Regardless of the cause of death, the basis for sending a corpse for examination during drowning may be the establishment of the fact that the human corpse has been in the water for a long time. These signs include:

• The presence of silt, sand or small algae on the body and clothing of the victim (especially at the roots of the hair).
• Wet clothes.
• Wrinkling and swelling of the skin (the so-called maceration) on the feet and palms of the corpse, as well as the gradual detachment of the epidermis.
• Presence of signs of decay.
• Hair loss, which is a consequence of loosening of the skin. After two weeks of being in the water, hair loss begins. After a month, the hairline may be completely lost.
• Detection of traces of adipocir (the so-called fat wax) on the surface of the corpse. Fat wax is the result of saponification of fatty and other tissues of the body by bacterial anaerobic hydrolysis.

Laboratory methods used during the examination of drowning

Due to the ambiguity of the morphological signs of drowning, in order to reliably establish the cause of death, experts resort to a number of laboratory tests.

• Forensic research. During it, a blood and urine analysis of the corpse is carried out to determine the amount of ethyl alcohol in the body of the deceased. To determine this indicator, gas chromatography methods are used.
• Study of diatom plankton – small plant and animal organisms that are part of the ecosystem of natural water bodies. Of particular importance among the entire biological diversity of plankton species are diatom algae, which are a variety of phytoplankton. Diatoms have a shell consisting of inorganic silicon compounds that do not decompose when they enter the human body. The diatoms in the water, along with it, enter the human circulatory system and spread throughout the body, settling in the bone marrow and parenchymal organs (kidneys, liver, etc.). The presence of diatom shells in the bone marrow of long bones, as well as in the liver and kidneys of a corpse, is a sure sign of drowning in water. A comparative analysis of the shells of diatoms found in the corpse and plankton in the water of the reservoir allows us to confirm drowning in this particular place. Diatoms of different reservoirs differ from each other, therefore, determining the place of drowning by analyzing their shells is a highly accurate method.
• Oil test.The method is based on the fact that oil and various petroleum products give bright fluorescence in the rays of ultraviolet. Light of the glow can be from blue and greenish blue to yellowish brown. Fluorescence can mucous duodenal and stomach, as well as the contents of these organs. If the body is detected in the river that is shipping, then the positive result of the oil sample will be a reliable sign of drowning.
• Histological methods. Analysis of the tissues of internal organs is a mandatory measure during the examination during drowning, since histological changes in organs are an important factor in establishing the fact of death from drowning. For example, with a microscopic study of tissues of central sites of lungs, there is a predominance of blings of bloating over insignificant areas of atelectasis (airlessness).
• Other methods of physical and technical research. If necessary, the density, viscosity and electronics of blood is measured, the level of blood electrolytes in the blood, determination of the blood freezing point and so on.

Legal basis for examination when drowning

Drowning may occur as a result of a number of reasons. Certain actions of other persons who led to drowning are subject to punishment.

• Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation implies a punishment for criminal negligence and improper performance by the official of his duties, which led to the death of a person.
• Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation prescribes responsibility for deliberate murder, including by drowning.
• Article 110 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation regulates the onset of responsibility for the act, referred to as bringing the person to suicide.
• Article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation prescribes responsibility for non-appearing assistance to a person in need. Including, for non-appearance of the help of the drowning.

Questions that are put in front of an expert conducted by study

This list of issues claimed before conducting an examination when drowning is general. In each case, the final list of questions is compiled individually and relies on the purpose and objectives of the study. The list of questions may also depend on the conditions for finding the corpse, the volume and quality of the existing investigative data, on the composition of the samples and materials presented for the study and so on.

In general, the expert may be asked the following questions:

1. What is the cause of death?
2. From what kind of drowning is a man died?
3. Is there a liquid in the light body under study?
4. What fluid was in the light corpse?
5. Is there a water from the open reservoir in the lungs?
6. What are the features of diatoms of algae discovered in pulmonary content?
7. Does the liquid extracted from the lightweight corpse coincide with the sample presented for research?
8. Is liquid detected in the sinus bone of the skull?
9. What was the recessed environment (in which fluid was drowning)?
10. What external signs testify to drowning?
11. What internal signs of drowning were discovered in autopsy?
12. Did the accompanying injuries (fractures, hematomas, etc.) were found during the estimation?
13. What is the content of blood alcohol in the studied?
14. Were the deceased any chronic diseases?
15. Are there any characteristic signs of resistance or self-defense on the body?
16. Is it possible to establish a violent nature of death?
17. Is the oil sample positive (negative)?
18. What external damage is detected on the corpse?
19. What is the origin of detected damage?
20. What are the results of histological research?

Conducting an examination in a criminal case

According to the Decree of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 21, 2010 N 28 "On Judicial Examination for Criminal Cases", an examination in a criminal case can be carried out either by a state expert institution or a non-profit organization established in accordance with the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and Federal Law "On non-commercial organizations", exercising forensic expertise in accordance with the statutes accepted.

Commercial organizations and laboratories, individual entrepreneurs, educational institutions, as well as non-commercial organizations for which expert activities are not statutory, Do not have the right To conduct an examination in a criminal case. Examination prepared by these organizations within the criminal procedure may be recognized as invalid evidence, i.e. Proof obtained in violation of the requirements of the procedural law.

Invalid evidence cannot be used in the process of proof, including investigating or be announced at the court session, and are subject to the exclusion of criminal case materials.

As Ano "Judicial Expert" is autonomous Non-Profit Organizationand conducting judicial expertise is her The main authorized activity (See the "Documents of the Organization" section), then it has the right to conduct examinations, including in criminal cases.