Greetings all! I’ve selected eight representative examples of post-mortem ocular descriptions from previous medical-legal death examinations, to help bring into perspective some of the previous discussion points regarding post-mortem ocular changes. Hope these are helpful! -Hal 1. The eyes are closed, irides are brown, corneas are moist and clear, and the conjunctivae have no petechiae. […]
Hal Brown
Hal’s answers 4
WARNING: this post includes graphic images! Jason asked: “What about drugs-usage? Don’t some drugs ‘contract’ the pupils? Or, would you not be able to say for sure what the normal pupil size was in the first place – so you can’t say if the pupil is contracted or dilated? But perhaps in case of OD, […]
Hal’s answers 3
WARNING: this post contains graphic photography! ________________________________________ Bluedog89 asked about lifting fingerprints from an eye and also can an eye capture an image at the time of death. Wow… interesting questions! Frankly, I am no fingerprint expert. Richard Case or Joe Giacalone could speak with far greater authority on this topic, then myself. I am […]
Hal’s answers 2
Guest blogger Hal Brown continues answering your questions. Hello Miriam, You mentioned the difficulty with regard to post-mortem changes in cadavers retrieved from aquatic environments; I most certainly agree with you! Decedents located in aquatic environments present multiple challenges. Marine scavengers will change the presentation of any dead organic matter rather quickly, as they consider […]
Hal’s answers 1
I am starting a new category so it will be easier for you to keep track of Hal Brown’s answers to your questions. WARNING: This post includes a graphic image. ____________________________________ Tiah asked: “Is there much the eyes can tell us about cause of death, other than the obvious of petechiae?” Excellent question, Tiah! First, […]
Post-mortem ocular changes are not conclusive post-mortem interval evidence.
Please welcome my fifth collaborator and guest blogger, Hal G. Brown. Hal Brown is the Deputy Director of the Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and states Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Wilmington, DE. Brown is also the Delaware Case Manager for NamUs Unidentified/Missing Persons. Hal will be educating us about post-mortem and autopsies. He will be indicating what the […]