Identification after disasters
Quality assurance
From
IOFOS with advice from:
Drs. Nagesh (India), Kirsch (Germany), Prieels (Belgium), Bergman (Sweden), Dawidson (Sweden), Teivens (Sweden), Johannessen (Norway), and Stene-Johansen (Norway)
If you follow the
procedures:
1.
Black indicates required steps
2.
Blue indicates recommended steps (may be omitted or changed without further
explanation)
General
1. The purpose is to help to identify all recovered bodies
2. It is important to act as a team-member
3. Odontologists must be prepared to work at any or all DVI Phases
4. Accuracy in the work is important
5. If possible, help to establish the cause of the disaster. Look for injury patterns and if special precautions could have saved lives
6. Constant training and preparation for such an event is mandatory
7. Educate all persons working at the scene of disaster
8. There should be a clear line of command within the forensic odontology group
9. Standard Operating Procedures, with reference to a check list in order to prevent mistakes and loss of time, are mandatory
At the scene of the incident
If possible, forensic odontologists should participate in the work at the scene of disaster, where the tasks are to:
1. Help in the search for bodies
2. Give a preliminary description of the dentition at the recovery site
3. Secure the head for transport to ensure no teeth are lost in transit
4. In the case of fire, assess the value and possibility of taking dental radiographs on site
Post Mortem
1. The dental status of each body should be described by a team of two forensic odontologists either by
a. both examining individually and cross-checking with each other
b.
one examine while the other take notes
2. If possible, the jaws should be resected (care should be taken not to separate jaws from body)
3. The teeth should be photographed
4. The jaws and teeth should be described
5. Radiographs should be taken in a systematic manner
6.
If required, one intact tooth should be extracted for DNA analysis
Ante Mortem
The forensic odontologist should:
1. Assist the police to locate the dentists and ask for all available a.m. material
2. If required, talk to the dentist and describe the material required
3.
In urgent cases, ask the dentist to describe the teeth and to send the material
as soon as possible
4. Transcribe the dental information on to the DVI forms
a.
Another forensic odontologist should check the transcription
5. Retain the original material in the ante mortem file
Computer programs
1. Ensure odontologists are trained to use the system
2.
Be especially aware of the coding and search systems - possibilities and
limitations
3.
Be aware of the capabilities of the program
a.
a sorting program only
b.
a complete program for sorting and reporting
4. Enter post mortem data - preferably directly during the autopsy
5. Enter ante mortem data - preferably directly
Comparisons
1. Assess the value of the results of the computer search
2. Compare information where identity is indicated, evaluate and inform the appropriate authority
3. If exclusion, give the appropriate authority immediate information/notification
Conclusions
1. One of the following conclusions should be used:
a. Identity established
i.
Less than
ii.
This conclusion may stand alone as evidence of identity
iii.
The experts should feel confident that the identity is correct
b. Identity probable
i.
The conclusion needs to be supported by other evidence for the final
identification
c. Identity possible
i.
More than 1:100 persons may fit the details
ii.
The conclusion needs to be supported by other strong evidence for the final
identification
d. Identity excluded
2. The conclusion should be agreed by two forensic odontologists and the report should be signed by both
Identification Board
The forensic odontologist should:
1. Participate in discussions and be prepared to describe and explain the dental findings
2. Be prepared to stop a wrong identification
3. Participate in the signing of the final identification together with the other expert groups
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