Medical examiners can revise a decedent's manner of death designation (for example, homicide, suicide, or undetermined) after reexamining autopsy findings and related evidence.
high
procedural
Describes a general procedure in medicolegal death investigation where manner-of-death determinations may be changed upon review.
In forensic pathology, the absence of defensive injuries on a body does not eliminate the possibility of homicide; a lack of defensive wounds requires explanation but does not by itself rule out homicide.
high
forensic_principle
General forensic principle about how defensive injuries factor into manner-of-death determinations.
Stab wounds located at the base of the skull and extending into the upper spinal column are generally considered difficult for a person to self-inflict and may be viewed as inconsistent with self-infliction because of their location and associated injuries.
medium
forensic_principle
A general forensic assessment regarding accessibility and injury patterns for self-inflicted stab wounds in the head/upper neck region.