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Scuba diving deaths: a review and approach for the pathologist
Legal Medicine Annual
|January 1, 1977
Summary
SCUBA diving fatalities in military personnel reveal that pathologists may not fully grasp hyperbaric risks. Investigations often lack data on barotrauma, decompression sickness, and contributing factors to drowning deaths.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Diving Safety
Background:
- Analysis of 34 SCUBA-related fatalities in military personnel from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
- Highlights a gap in pathologists' understanding of hyperbaric aquatic environments and associated risks.
Observation:
- Investigations into SCUBA fatalities often yield insufficient data on barotraumatic injuries, aseptic bone necrosis, and contaminated air supply.
- Examines the interplay of human, environmental, and life support systems in diving fatalities.
- Reviews hyperbaric pathophysiology to improve interpretation of death causes and mechanisms.
Findings:
- Differentiates between air embolism and decompression sickness in the context of SCUBA fatalities.
- Analysis of ten operational diving fatalities underscores the significance of SCUBA type.
- Emphasizes risks associated with rebreather SCUBA, including anoxia, hyperoxic convulsions, and hypercapnia.
Implications:
- Proposes a standardized medical investigation approach for SCUBA fatalities.
- Aims to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of forensic investigations into diving accidents.
- Stresses the need for improved training and awareness among medical examiners regarding diving physiology and equipment.