(Private)The ABC’s of BFT: Abrasions, Bruises, and Contusions Demystified for Colorado Respondent Parent Counsel (RPC)
This presentation is designed to teach attorneys and investigators about various injuries that result from the three types of blunt force trauma: abrasions, contusions, and lacerations. Dating of contusions is included as well as information on multiple injuries. The purpose of this presentation is to assist attorneys and investigators in understanding the causative factors behind injuries from blunt force trauma and provide them with knowledge regarding the potential indicators of such injuries.
- Bruises/Contusions
- Abrasions
- Lacerations
- Multiple Injuries
- Other Injuries – Patterned Injuries
- Avulsions
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the attendee will:
1) Be familiar with the accuracy of dating of contusions and the literature related to it.
2) Be familiar with the types of soft tissue injuries commonly seen in Blunt Force Trauma
3) Be able to recognize the characteristics of patterned contusions.
4) Be familiar with mechanisms of injury of contusions, abrasions, and lacerations
Speaker
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Tara GodoyBSN RN CFNTara Godoy is a Certified Forensic Nurse and has been working with Criminal and Civil Attorneys for over 10 years. She has a BS in Nursing from the University of Southern California and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through consulting and testimony she has assisted both the prosecution and the defense in obtaining an honest and fair resolution in hundreds of criminal cases. Along with her nursing staff and physician contractors, Godoy Medical Forensics has consulted on over 1500 cases nationwide and has worked at both the federal and state levels. Tara has been asked to present for national organizations such as the NACDL and the NDIA at their Forensics conferences in Las Vegas. Tara’s main areas of expertise are Strangulation and Blunt Force Trauma, but testimony is also offered on other cases where traumatic injuries occur or medical record analysis is needed.
