Role of radiology in human rights abuse

Radiology is well established in forensic medicine. The traditional role for radiology includes the search for occult injuries and foreign bodies, namely bullets, and identification of injury patterns especially in aircraft accidents. Recently, a more important role has developed: that of identification. This report deals with experience based upon over 100 identifications. Age, sex, race, and height may be established from radiographs. Radiology also plays a role in the documentation of civil rights abuse. The various modes of radiology can document visceral and skeletal injury. Terminal events may be reconstructed.