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The importance of medico-legal autopsies. An analysis of the complex problems regarding damages
Insights
Medico-legal autopsies investigated work-related deaths, finding most fatalities, like coronary sclerosis, were not job-related. However, two home deaths highlighted the need to consider workplace injuries even when not directly caused by industrial accidents.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Medico-legal autopsies are crucial for determining work-related fatalities.
- The National Office of Social Security requested autopsies to assess the link between deceased individuals' work and their cause of death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between occupation and cause of death in cases requested by the National Office of Social Security.
- To determine the frequency and nature of work-related deaths through medico-legal autopsies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 144 medico-legal autopsies performed between 1973-1977.
- Review of autopsy findings to establish cause and manner of death.
- Assessment of whether deaths could be attributed to occupational factors.
Main Results:
- Coronary sclerosis and thrombosis were the most frequent causes of death among men, but generally not accepted as work-related.
- Only 26 out of 117 men who died during work were accepted as work-related deaths.
- Two cases of death at home were accepted, including a fall from scaffolding and arsenic poisoning, underscoring the need for thorough investigation.
Conclusions:
- Most deaths investigated were not directly caused by occupational stress or industrial accidents.
- Medico-legal autopsies revealed underlying causes of death, with unknown causes being rare (1.4%).
- Even deaths occurring outside of direct work hours or location may be linked to working conditions, necessitating careful medico-legal evaluation.
Abstract:
One hundred forty-four medico-legal autopsies were performed at the University Institute of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen during the period 1973-77, all requested by the National Office of Social Security in order to estimate whether the cause of death could be related to the work of the deceased. The total number of medico-legal autopsies in the same period was 4050. The material included only four women. One hundred seventeen men died during work, 26 cases were accepted. Clear cases of accidents were always accepted and damages were paid. In cases where the deceased died on his way to or from work damages were rejected. Nineteen men (13%) had died after returning to their homes. Two cases among these were accepted (fall from scaffolding during working hours, arsenic poisoning where death occurred later in hospital). The mean age of the group was about 50 years, which is less than in an average medico-legal population. In all cases but two the autopsy revealed the cause of death, i.e. that unknown causes of death totalled 1.4%. The manner of death was elucidated in all cases. The most frequent cause of death in men turned out to be coronary sclerosis and coronary thrombosis. All such cases were rejected as being due to working conditions, because in no case was extraordinary working stress found to be evident. The two cases of death which occurred at home showed the importance of being aware of injuries due to working conditions, even if death could not be directly related to an industrial accident.
