Forensic submissions in a diagnostic pathology practice: A 10-year review.

Abstract

The types of submissions presented for forensic purposes to a private specialty practice in veterinary diagnostic pathology over a 10-year period are reviewed in this article. Records of forensic submissions were analyzed for diagnostic conclusions which were then categorized for a potential breach of law. In 34 of 66 total submissions, death was due to a cause other than potential violation of law. In the remaining 32 submissions, good postmortem examination and description of findings was sufficient to provide the police and courts with the information required for their investigations. The findings are discussed with a view to dispelling the reluctance of many veterinary clinicians to accept forensic cases.