Zusammenfassung
Die Feststellung des Todes ist eine nicht delegierbare ärztliche Aufgabe und muss
mit der gleichen Souveränität beherrscht werden wie alle ärztlichen Maßnahmen, die
am lebenden Patienten durchgeführt werden.
Abstract
The declaration and investigation of death cases is a non-delegable task of medical
doctors and should be mastered in the same quality as all examinations on living patients.
A person is dead when at least one sign of death is established (livores mortis, rigor
mortis, putrefaction, injuries incompatible with life, brain death). In all other
cases of unconscious patients a sufficient cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be
started. If the person is declared dead, an external post mortem examination has to
be carried out as soon as possible. Emergency doctors should be kept informed about
the regional juridical features. The investigation of the death scenario, potentially
known pre-existing disorders of the patient as well as medical records should be added
to the findings of the body surface to conclude the most plausible cause and manner
of death of the corpse. Doctors should pay attention, when petechial bleedings are
found in the patientʼs face or the conjunctives, as these symptoms should raise the
suspicion of strangling forces to the neck. Internal causes of death are often invisible
examining the body surface, which results in difficulties to declare the death cause
merely by external findings. Injuries, however, are most often visible and can be
a hint of a crime scenario or external harm.
Schlüsselwörter
Leichenschau - Reanimation - Rechtsmedizin - sichere Todeszeichen - Todesfeststellung
- Forensik
Key words
external post mortem examination - resuscitation - forensic medicine - signs of death
- declaration of death
