2016 Re-Examination

 

FACULTY OF COMMERCE, ADMINISTRATION AND LAW

DEPARTMENT OF LAW

SECOND SEMESTER RE-EXAMINATIONS 2016

LPFM 402 – FORENSIC MEDICINE

 

DURATION: 3 HOURS                                                        FULL MARKS: 100

                                                                                          SUBMINIMUM:  40%

Internal Examiner

Mrs. L Ramaccio Calvino

Internal Moderator

Prof. D Iyer

External Moderator:

Dr. V Kalapdeo (District Surgeon)

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Please ascertain that this paper consist of THREE pages.

2. Please clearly number the questions correctly.

3. Please answer each question on a new page.

4. Write neatly.

 

Question 1:

A human body is discovered at sea. On examination of the body a snake bite is noticed on the leg of the deceased. A branch of a tree was also found gripped in the deceased’s hand. Answer the following questions based on the aforesaid circumstances with reference to authority where applicable:-

 

1. Considering the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased, discuss whether the deceased’s death will be regarded as a natural or unnatural death by referring to the classifications of natural and unnatural deaths.         (15)
    
    
2. If the deceased’s body was recovered from an aircraft disaster, how should such an aircraft accident be managed in identifying the deceased?       (15)
    

Question 2:

Discuss and differentiate between blunt and sharp force injuries.                    (20)

 

Question 3:

Mr. Apple fell of his bicycle. He knocked his head on a stone, fractured three vertebras and his femur. He underwent a neurosurgical procedure to fuse the three vertebras as well as an orthopedic procedure to repair the fractured femur. During the procedures Mr. Apple died.

3.1     If Mr. Apple survived the surgeries but complained of confusion and drowsiness 12 hours after the accident what head injury would you consider as most probable? Motivate your answer.                                                                               (20)

 

Question 4:

Discuss the non-accidental injury syndrome as well as the medico-legal problems regarding the alleged concealment of death.                                                                       (10)

 

 

Question 5:

The body of a mountain climber is discovered on Mount Kilimanjaro. Discuss how abnormally low environmental temperatures may have led to the cause of death of the mountain climber.                                                                                                (10)

 

Question 6:

A three month old baby is discovered dead in his cot. Your client instructs you that she placed her baby in the cot and the next morning she found her baby to be dead. The pathologist did not find any signs of suffocation. What is the possible cause of death under these circumstances? Motivate your answer.                                                   (10)

THE END