[Wrong statement of manner of death after insufficient post-mortem examination].

When death certificates already completed are submitted during forensic post-mortem examinations or autopsies, blatant errors are often found, especially with regard to the classification of the manner of death. This is partly attributable to insufficient knowledge of the classification criteria, but also to the fact that the post-mortem examination was not properly performed and even clear signs of unnatural death (e.g.

Development of a new multi-analyte assay for the simultaneous detection of opioids in serum and other body fluids using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using electrospray ionization in positive ionization mode was developed for the simultaneous detection of multiple opioid-type drugs in plasma. The presented assay allows the quantitative determination of alfentanil, buprenorphine, codeine, desomorphine, dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, ethylmorphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, naloxone, naltrexone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, pethidine, pholcodine, piritramide, remifentanil, sufentanil, and tramadol as well as the metabolites 6-monoacetylmorphine, bisnortilidine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, naltrexol, norbuprenorphine, norfentanyl, norpethidine, nortilidine, and O-desmethyltramadol. Serum and blood samples were purified by solid-phase extraction.

[Conventional radiology versus the increasing importance of post-mortem computed tomography].

Radiological imaging can provide valuable additional information, facilitate and improve the quality of subsequent autopsy. Although the use of cross-sectional imaging methods is increasing, they are not always available in medico-legal practice. In many cases it is advisable to perform conventional X-rays before autopsy, especially in cases of gunshot injuries, as illustrated by a case in which the victim suffered several gunshot wounds with one projectile lodged in a vertebral body.

[Post-mortem examination prior to cremation--an instrument to verify the quality of medical post-mortems and uncover non-natural deaths?].

The external post-mortem examination, its deficient quality and possible causes have been the subject of numerous political and professional discussions. The external post-mortem examination is the basis for the decision whether further criminal investigations are required to clarify the cause of death. It is thus an essential instrument to ensure legal certainty.