Identification of the Incapacitated Patient in Mass Casualty Events: An Exploration of Challenges, Solutions, and Barriers.

Increasing scrutiny of the role and actions of emergency responders in the aftermath of mass casualty events has led to improvements and advances in terms of treatment and care. However, despite these improvements, the authors have identified a growing concern relating to the identification of incapacitated patients and those unable to provide any identifying details, such as pediatric patients. The use of visual identification and the reliance on personal effects within the vicinity of a victim, either living or deceased, has resulted in mistaken identification in a number of major international incidents. The purpose of this article is to consider whether commonly used scientific methods for identification of the deceased could and should be broadened to include victims who are incapacitated and unable to confirm their own identity. The medicolegal questions that may arise when applying identification methods established for deceased patients to the living casualty will also be examined. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:338-344).