Pediatric Forensic Pathology

Pediatric Forensic Pathology

Pediatric forensic pathology is a recognized subspeciality interest within the forensic pathology community.  Disease, injury and the overlap of the two can pose significant challenges for the legal community when an infant or young child is injured or killed.  A very small number of individuals practice full-time pediatric forensic pathology globally.  Your complex pediatric matter deserves assessment by an expert dedicated to the medicolegal evaluation infants and young children.

 

Examples of common consultation areas:

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) / abusive head trauma (AHT)

  • Impact head trauma
  • Alleged “pure shaking”
  • Retinal hemorrhages
  • Cervical spine / neck injuries
  • Skull fractures
  • Short falls
  • Lucid intervals
  • BESS/BECC

 

Child abuse & neglect

  • Burns / thermal injuries
  • Patterned injuries
  • Rib fractures
  • Long bone fractures
  • Spanking injuries
  • Starvation
  • Dehydration
  • Hypothermia / hyperthermia
  • Failure to provide the necessaries of life
  • Blunt chest trauma
  • Blunt abdominal trauma

Rape, sexual abuse, mutilation and torture

  • Rape trauma
  • Genital injuries
  • Variants of normal genital anatomy
  • Chronic sexual abuse
  • Vaginal trauma
  • Anal trauma
  • Penile trauma

 

SIDS / SUID / SUDC / Undetermined infant and child death

  • Unexplained / unexpected infant and young child death
  • Suffocation
  • Wedging
  • Bed-sharing
  • Co-sleeping
  • Overlay
.