Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- United Nations Statement
- 1 Physical and sexual abuse of children
- 2 Intimate partner violence
- 3 Sexual assault
- 4 The geriatric patient
- 5 Mentally ill or cognitively impaired patients
- 6 Immigrants and ethnic minority populations
- 7 Care of victims of torture
- 8 Trafficking victims
- 9 Forensic photography
- Index
- Plate section
- References
9 - Forensic photography
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 August 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- United Nations Statement
- 1 Physical and sexual abuse of children
- 2 Intimate partner violence
- 3 Sexual assault
- 4 The geriatric patient
- 5 Mentally ill or cognitively impaired patients
- 6 Immigrants and ethnic minority populations
- 7 Care of victims of torture
- 8 Trafficking victims
- 9 Forensic photography
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Introduction
Recognition and documentation of injuries is an essential step in the evaluation of victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, or other forms of abuse in which injuries are incurred. Although many of these injuries are medically “insignificant,” they can still have significant forensic value if adequately documented. Physicians and nurses who examine these patients may find themselves with the additional role of forensic photographer. While most providers will not have the benefit of formal training in photography, it is important to understand some basic principles of forensic photography. This chapter is intended to outline these principles to allow you to maximize the use of photography in the care of assault victims. Many photographs referred to are included in the color insert.
Injury documentation
When an injury is identified, it is important to record the findings. Ideally, injuries should be recorded in three ways: a written description, complemented by diagrams and finally by photography.
Written description
The written description of the injury should be simple and accurate. It should include the location of the injury and describe the type of injury (e.g., contusion / burn / stab wound). Both the width and length of the injury should be noted. If the injury has a specific shape or pattern, describe it (circular, curvilinear, linear, triangular, etc.).
Even in experienced hands, some injuries can be difficult to describe and often words alone fail to describe the injuries adequately. For this reason, supplementing the written description with body diagrams and photographs is essential.
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- Emergency Care of the Abused , pp. 265 - 282Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
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The importance of forensic photography in the emergency department. J Emerg Nursing. 1995 Dec; 21(6): 566–7.Google Scholar
Forensic documentation in battered pregnant women. J Nurse Midwifery. 1996 Nov–Dec; 41(6): 467–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Digital imaging: a viable alternative to conventional medico-legal photography. J Audiov Media Med. 2001 Sept; 24(3): 129–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Photography in bite mark and patterned injury documentation – Part 1. J Forensic Sci. 1998 Jul; 43(4): 877–80.Google Scholar
Photography in bite mark and patterned injury documentation – Part 2: A case. J Forensic Sci. 1998 Jul; 43(4): 881–7.Google Scholar
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. Wright, CV. Contemporary Colposcopy. W. B. Saunders Company. March 1993. Volume 20, Number 1.
, , Adolescent sexual assault: documentation of acute injuries using photocolposcopy. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2001 Nov; 14(4): 175–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
, , , et al. Adolescent response to sexual abuse evaluation including the use of video colposcopy. J Adolesc Health. 2003 Jul; 33(1): 18–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
, , Diagnostic accuracy of colposcopic photographs in child sexual abuse evaluations. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 1999 May; 12(2): 58–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
, Reaction to videocolposcopy in the assessment of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse Negl. 2001 Nov; 25(11): 1535–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
, , Using colposcopy in the rape exam: healthcare, forensic and criminal justice issues. J Forensic Nurs. 2005 Spring; 1(1): 28–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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