過去5年間の奈良県内における身元不明死体解剖事例の統計的考察

Abstract

The authors made statistica1 observations of medico-1egal autopsy cases of unidentified bodies in the Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medica1 University School of Medicine, during the last half decade(2009-2013). This study revealed that cases of unidentified bodies have been increasing. DNA tests, tooth appraisal, and finger prints were common methods for persona1 identification. The bodies discovered in their own houses accounted for the large part of total unidentified death and they were left unattended for a long period. A decomposed or skeletonized body was the primary cause of the unidentified cases. "Unknown" was more frequent than any other cause of death among the unidentified bodies. Determining the cause of death is essential for exact mortality statistics and improvement of pub1ic hea1th. Therefore, administrative supports and regiona1 partnerships are very important to reduce unattended death. Since autopsies for unidentified cases are more complicated than for identified cases, increasing the staff size in the Department of Legal Medicine is an urgent issue to cope with the increasing number of autopsy cases.