Is it Neglect or Failure to Thrive? {Child/Elder Abuse}

Neglect is not a straightforward issue in medicine or law. A review of the records by a forensic medical expert may be beneficial in determining if there are underlying issues that are contributing to the child’s health status. In our practice we are most often called in on physical neglect cases to review and determine [&hellip Read More...

Can someone consent after a head injury? {Mental Health/Toxicology}

Many times, a police officer will interview a defendant after a fight or a car wreck where the person being interviewed has suffered head trauma. What the police officer may not understand is that even mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) can affect a person’s ability to comprehend the questions being asked and the ramifications of [&hellip Read More...

When does in-home caregiving turn into Elder Abuse/Neglect?

In many criminal cases, Adult Protective Services and the police are called because a patient arrives at the hospital with multiple and severe wounds called pressure ulcers. They often are septic because the wounds have gotten infected and in the elderly it leads to an altered mental state very rapidly. This leads to an investigation [&hellip Read More...

Two Black Eyes But He Swears He Didn’t Hit Her {Assault/Trauma}

Two Black Eyes, also known as Raccoon’s eyes, is a sign of a skull fracture and does not necessarily indicate blunt force trauma to the face. Because this type of skull fracture is often missed on radiology studies, a medical expert is needed to review the records and determine the cause of the bruising.   [&hellip Read More...

Is the Defendant Drunk or Concussed? {DUI/Gen Med}

If a person who is charged with a DUI and has a concussion, a review of the medical records by an expert can determine if the defendant has either: Concussion overview Concussion is a form of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) in which the brain is impacted sufficiently to result in neurological symptoms but not [&hellip Read More...

Bruises and Bones – When is it child abuse?

Child abuse cases are emotionally driven for everyone involved. Expert review for both sides is imperative to ensure that the facts of the case are brought to light. The healthcare providers are emotionally connected to the patient and this may affect their ability to remain unbiased. A forensic expert can review of the discovery and [&hellip Read More...

Heroin Withdrawal and Intent {Mental Health/Toxicology}

“What symptoms of Heroin withdrawal would affect the defendant’s ability to form intent?” Heroin use is a common thread within the criminal system and can become relevant in cases where the defendant’s ability to form intent is in question. Heroin intoxication is often the focus but withdrawal should also be considered. What follows is a [&hellip Read More...

What Constitutes GBI? {Assault/Trauma}

I am often called to testify in assault cases in which great bodily injury is an enhancement. In these cases I try to determine the severity of the injury based off of the medical records and photographs. For this month’s newsletter, I’d like to point out some ways to avoid pitfalls in GBI cases by using [&hellip Read More...