Contusion (Bruise)- A contusion, or bruise,

is caused by a direct blow to the body that can

cause damage to the surface of
the skin and to deeper tissues
as well depending on the
severity of the blow.

Hematoma- large extravasation of blood in a newly formed

cavity secondary to trauma characterized by swelling,
discoloration and effusion of blood underneath the tissues.
The most common cause of a hematoma is injury or trauma to blood
vessels.

1. Sharp-edge instrument

- Sharp-force injuries are defined as injuries produced by an instrument

with a thin edge or point. Examples of these instruments include a
knife, razor, box cutter, scalpel, sharp-edged piece of metal, broken
glass bottle, broken glass window, scissor, ice pick, fork, propeller,
screw driver, saw blade, axe, machete, arrow, nail, pickaxe, spiked
fence post, meat cleaver, and so on

Incised wound – A clean, straight cut caused by a

sharp edge (i.e. a knife).

2. Sharp-pointed instrument

- A puncture wound is a
forceful injury caused by
a sharp, pointed object
that goes into the skin. A
puncture wound is usually
narrower and deeper than
a cut or scrape.

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3. Sharp-Edge and Sharp-Pointed – stab

- A stab wound results from penetration of a

pointed instrument into the depths of the
body, causing a wound that is deeper than
its length on the skin. The thrust of a knife,
for example, produces such an injury. As
with a cut, the edges of a stab wound are
sharp, straight, and not undermined.

4. Rough object – abrasion

- Is a superficial rub or wearing off

of the skin, usually caused by a
scrape or a brush burn. Abrasions
are usually minor injuries that can
be treated at home. The skin may
bleed or drain small amounts at
the time of the injury or at times
over the next few days if rubbed or
scratched.

A. As to Manner of Infliction
a. Hit
b. Thrust or stab
c. Gunpowder explosion
d. Sliding or rubbing or abrasion
E. As to the depth of the Wound
1. Superficial-When the wound involves only the layers of the skin.
2. Deep-When the wound involves the inner structure beyond the layers of the
skin.
F. As to the relation of the site of application of force and injury
A. Coup Injury- Injury at the side of application.
B. Contre coup- injury found opposite the side of application.

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 C. Coup Contre Coup- injury both at the side and opposite side of

application.

D. Locus Minoris Resistencia- Injury is found on

some area offering the least resistance to the
force applied.

E. Extensive Injury- involves a greater area of damage.

As to the type of the Wound

1. Closed Wound:
- superficial Closed wound
- deep closed wound

PETECHIAE
- Pinpoint, round spots that form on the skin.
They're caused by bleeding, which makes the
spots look red, brown or purple. The spots
often form in groups and may look like a rash.

1. SPRAIN- disruption in the

continuity of muscular or
ligamentous support of a
joint.

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 2. DISLOCATION- displacement of the articular surface of bones

3. FRACTURE- a partial or
complete break in the bone.

TYPES OF FRACTURE

1. Compound Fracture – with open wound caused by

the broken bone
2. Comminuted Fracture - fragmented in several
pieces
3. Greenstick Fracture – crack
4. Spiral Fracture – spiral
5. Pathologic Fracture – weakness of bone due to
disease.

6. CONCUSSION
- a type of traumatic
brain injury—or
TBI—caused by a
bump, blow, or jolt
to the head or by a
hit to the body that
causes the head
and brain to move
rapidly back and
forth.

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 4. INTERNAL HEMORRAGE- Bleeding that occurs when blood vessels become
damaged inside the body.

Open Wound- there is a breach of continuity of the skin or mucous membrane.

1. Incised- a wound or
cut caused by a
clean, sharp object

Suicidal Homicidal Direction Oblique

- from below left ear, downwards, across front neck just above Adam’s
apple Usually horizontal below the Adam’s apple Severity Usually not
so deep and may only involve trachea carotid and sometimes the
esophagus is involved Usually deep and may cause involvement of the
cartilage and bones.

Suicidal Homicidal Position of the body

- May be sitting facing a mirror or standing Usually victim ling on bed or
in other place Wounding weapon Firmly grasped (Cadaveric spasm) or
found lying beside victim
- Weapon is absent Blood distribution Blood found in front part of the
body. Hand generally smeared with blood Blood found at the back of
the neck.

2. Lacerated- a wound that is produced by the tearing of

soft body tissue. This type of wound is often irregular
and jagged.

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KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

From a forensic perspective, it is important to use the correct terminology

when describing wounds.
a. Lacerations are caused by blunt-force trauma.
b. The hallmark of lacerations is the presence of tissue bridging.
c. Incised wounds are caused by sharp-force trauma, usually by a sharp-edged
object.
d. The wound edges can help distinguish a laceration from an incised wound/cut

Figure 1. Wound from a broken beer bottle. Figure 2. Laceration (caused by blunt force
trauma), mimicking a sharp force injury. The presence of “tissue bridging” (arrows) helps to
differentiate a laceration from a sharp injury. Figure 3. An incised wound of the face. Note
that the wound is longer on the skin surface than it is deep.

3. Punctured-a forceful injury caused by a

sharp, pointed object that goes into the skin.

4. Stab Wound- Most stab wounds

caused by knives tend to have
clean-cut edges with one or both
ends appearing pointed. If the
blade is single-edged the
nonpointed end may be either
squared off or split (fishtail) in
appearance.

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Suicidal Evidences showing the stab wound is suicidal:
• Located over the vital parts of the body.
• Usually solitary. If multiple, they are located on one part of the body.
• If located on covered parts of the body, the clothing are not involved.
• The stab wound is accessible to the hand of the victim.
• The hand of the victim is smeared with blood. knip

Homicidal –stabbing with homicidal intent is the most

• Injuries other than stab wound may be present.
• Stab wound may be located in any part of the body.
• Usually there are more than one stab wound.
• There is motive for the stabbing. If w/out, the offender must be insane or under the
influence of drugs.
• There is disturbance in the crime scene

Medical evidences showing intent of the offender to kill the victim:

1. There are more than one stab wounds.

2. The stab wounds are located in different parts of the body or on the parts of the
body where vital organs are located.
3. Stub wounds are deep.
4. Stab wound w/ serrated or zigzag borders infers alternative thrust and
withdrawal of the wounding weapon to increase internal damages.
5. Irregular or stellate shape skin defects may be due to changing direction of the
weapon with the portion of the instrument at the level of the skin as the lever.

5. Avulsion- a forcible tearing off of skin or

another part of the body, such as an ear or a
finger

6. Gunshot and shotgun Wound- Gunshot wounds are caused by projectiles and
other types of missiles projected from firearms by means of high-pressure
combustion gases.

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 - Gunshot wound- the diameter of the wound of entrance may approximate of
the caliber of the wounding firearm

(a) Bullet entry through right ear, neck and cheek region. (b) Exit wound with large cavitation
and shattered left mandible

 The use of firearms is becoming more prevalent in the society and

hence the number of homicidal and suicidal cases. The severity of
gunshot wounds varies depending on the weapons caliber and the
distance of firing.
 Gunshot injuries are always known to cause severe morbidity and
mortality when head and neck are Involved.

Death or Physical Injuries Brought About by Powder Propelled Substances

1. Production of Combustions:

a) Bullet - Gunshot Wound

b) Flame – Singeing/Burning
c) Smoke - Smudging
d) Gun powder residue - tatooing
e) Grime - tatooing

Smudging - Is the blackening of the area

around the bullet hole/bullet perforation.

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 b. Tattooing -Is a black coarsely peppered pattern the bullet perforation.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENTRANCE AND EXIT GUN SHOT WOUNDS

- ENTRANCE- Appears to be smaller than missile owing to elasticity of tissue except

contact fire Always bigger than missile Edges inverted Edges averted Usually
ovaloid or rounded Variable shape Contusion collar present Contusion collar absent
Other product of combustions when firing is near Always absent Paraffin test may
be positive Always negative.

Figure 1. A, Entrance wound from a large-

caliber .45 handgun. B, Entrance wound from a
medium-caliber 9 mm. Both wounds show typical
entrance characteristics with round defects in the
skin and marginal rims of abrasion.

Exit wounds are usually irregular and there is

no abrasion ring in the vast majority of cases;
there are no secondary effects of the discharge

Determination of the distance of fire:

a. Contact Fire - intense laceration and undermining of the point entrance. No

bigger than exit.
b. Distance of six (6) inches presence of smudging, singeing and tattooing.
c. Beyond six (6) inches but within (36) inches - presence of the tattooing
d. Beyond thirt six (36) inches only the gunshot wound will be present.

Characteristics of Shotgun Wound

a. Contact fire - entrance of wound is irregular with severe destruction of the underlying
tissue. There is singeing and smudging.
b. Near shot up to 6 inches

 mark laceration of skin

 gunpowder maybe driven into the deeper area of wound
 mark surrounding of skin and deeper portion of the wound of entrance

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  mark tattooing
 hair is singe
 wad may be found inside the wound entrance knip

Contact shotgun entrance wound

- The wound is unique, oval and with

regular edges because the pellets
penetrate the target as a single
mass.
Contributed by Lorenzo Gitto, M.D. and
Robert Stoppacher, M.D.

Multiple exits due to pellets. Wounds are

usually oval with everted margins.
Contributed by Lorenzo Gitto, M.D. and
Robert Stoppacher, M.D.

What is Hemorrhage?

- Extravasation or loss of blood from the

circulation brought about by wounds in the cardiovascular system.

Kinds of Hemorrhage
 Primary Hemorrhage
 Secondary Hemorrhage
 Infection – appearance of growth and development of microorganism at the site of
injury.
- 40% blood loss and is considered a preterminal event. Without very aggressive
measures, the patient is expected to die within minutes.
-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7181451/

SPECIAL TYPES OF WOUNDS

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 Defense Wound–Wound which is the result of the person‘s instinctive reaction of
self protection.

Patterned Wound -
Wound in the nature and
shape of an object or
instrument causing it.

MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF
WOUNDS

The following rules must always be observed by the physician in the examination of
wounds:
a. All injuries must be described, however small for it may be important later.
b. The description of the wounds must be comprehensive, and if possible a
sketch or photograph must be taken.
c. The examination must not be influenced by any other information obtained
from others in making a report or a conclusion.

a. Examinations that are applicable to the living and dead victim:

- age of the wound from the degree of healing
- Determination of the weapon used in the commission of the offense
- Determination whether the injury is accidental, suicidal or homicidal.
- Reasons for the multiplicity of wounds in cases where there are more than one
wound

b. Examinations that are applicable only to living:

- Determination whether the injury is dangerous to life.
- Will produce permanent deformity.
- Produced shock.
 Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when
the body is not getting enough blood flow.
- Will produce complication as a consequence.

c. Examinations that are applicable to the dead victim:

- Determination whether the wound is ante-mortem or post-mortem.
- The wound is mortal or not.
- Death is accelerated by a disease or some abnormal developments which are
present at the time of the infliction of the wound.
- Wound was caused by accident, suicide or homicide.
d. Conditions of the Locality
- degree of hemorrhage
- evidence of struggle
- information as to the position of the body

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 - presence of letter or suicide note
- condition of the weapon
e. Possible Instruments Used by the Assailant in Inflicting the Injuries
- Contusion- produced by the blunt instrument.
- Incised wound- produced by sharp-edged instrument inflicted by hitting
- Lacerated wound- produced by the blunt instrument.
- Punctured wound- produced by the sharped-pointed instrument.
- Abrasion- body surfaces rubbed on rough hard surface.

Which of the wound was inflicted first?

- If the first wound was inflicted in a treacherous way that the victim after receipt is
incapable of defense, then murder is committed, but if the fatal wound was inflicted
last, it is possible that the crime committed is only homicide.

Death by Asphyxia

- All forms of violent death which results primarily from the interference with the
process of respiration or to condition in which the supply of oxygen to the blood or
tissue or both has been reduced below normal level.

 Hanging
- Hanging is killing a person by suspending them from the neck with a noose or
ligature

 Strangulation

- compression of anatomical neck structures leading to asphyxia and neuronal death

 Manual or throtting
- Manual strangulation, also known as throttling, is a type of asphyxial death where
the perpetrator uses his hand to encircle and compress the front and side of the
neck. It is a common method of homicide, most often encountered when the
physical size and strength of the assailant exceeds that of the victim

LESSON 14: SALIENT PROVISIONS OF RA 8049, RA 7877 and

RA 11313

1. RA 8049 as Amended by RA 11053 — Anti-Hazing Law

 Hazing Defined: Any act causing physical or psychological suffering or injury to

initiate, admit, or maintain membership in an organization.

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  Prohibition: All forms of hazing that cause physical injuries or death are strictly
prohibited.
 Liability: Organizers, participants, and school officials who allow hazing can be held
liable.
 Penalties:
o Death or serious physical injuries: Imprisonment of 20 years to life.
o Less serious injuries: Imprisonment or fines.
 Mandatory reporting: Schools and organizations must report hazing incidents to
authorities.
 Consent is irrelevant: Even if the victim consents, hazing is illegal.

RULING:

 People v. Sandiganbayan (G.R. No. 204762, 2018)

o The Supreme Court affirmed that consent of the victim is not a defense in
hazing cases.
o Emphasized that hazing causing physical or psychological injury is
punishable regardless of voluntariness.
o Reinforced strict liability on organizers and participants.
 People v. Gonzales (G.R. No. 226070, 2019)
o Clarified that all acts of hazing causing harm are punishable.

2. RA 7877 — Anti-Sexual Harassment Act

 Definition: Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for

sexual favors, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature.
 Covered Settings: Workplace, educational/training institutions.
 Responsibility of Employers/Institutions:
o Implement policies to prevent sexual harassment.
o Act on complaints promptly and fairly.
 Protection for Victims: Victims cannot be retaliated against.
 Penalties: Fines, imprisonment (1 month to 6 years), dismissal from work or
expulsion from school.
 Examples of sexual harassment:
o Unwanted touching or gestures.
o Demanding sexual favors in exchange for employment or academic benefits.

RULING:

 Santos v. University of the Philippines (G.R. No. 146410, 2005)

o The Court ruled that educational institutions have the responsibility to
protect students from sexual harassment.
o Established that failure to act on complaints may lead to institutional liability.
 Bacani v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 122573, 1999)

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 o The Supreme Court held employers liable for sexual harassment committed
by supervisors.
o Affirmed that the workplace must be free from sexual harassment for
employees to work with dignity.

3. RA 11313 — Safe Spaces Act

 Scope: Covers public spaces (streets, parks, and public transport), workplaces,
educational institutions, and online platforms.
 Prohibited Acts:
o Catcalling, wolf-whistling, persistent requests for dates.
o Unwanted physical contact or gestures.
o Online sexual harassment (sending unsolicited sexual messages or images).
 Employer/Institution Obligations:
o Establish safe spaces and anti-harassment policies.
o Conduct training and seminars.
o Provide complaint mechanisms.
 Penalties:
o Administrative fines.
o Imprisonment (1 month to 1 year) for more serious offenses.
 Public Awareness: Law mandates campaigns to educate citizens about safe
spaces.

RULING:

 Since RA 11313 is relatively recent (enacted in 2019), Supreme Court rulings are
limited, but lower courts have started applying the law:
 People v. Del Mundo (Quezon City MTC, 2020)
o A local court applied the Safe Spaces Act in a case of street harassment
(catcalling).
o The court upheld penalties for public sexual harassment, signalling the law’s
active enforcement.

ADDITIONAL TOPIC:
AUTOPSY

- It is a comprehensive study of a dead body performed by trained physician using

recognized dissection procedures and techniques, primary to determine the true
cause of death. Indicates that, in addition to an external examination, the body is
opened and internal examination is conducted.

POST MORTEM EXAMINATION

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- Refers to an external examination of a dead body without incision being made, although
blood and other fluids may be collected for examination.

KINDS OF AUTOPSIES

1. HOSPITAL OR NON-OFFICIAL done on a human body with the consent of the

deceased person’s relatives for the purpose of:

a) determining the cause of death

b) providing correlation of clinical diagnosis and clinical symptoms
c) determining the effectiveness of therapy
d) studying the natural course of disease process
e) educating students and physicians.

2. MEDICO LEGAL OR OFFICIAL an examination performed on a dead body purpose

of:

a) determining the cause, manner or mode and time of death

b) recovering, identifying and preserving evidentiary material
c) providing correlation of facts and circumstances related to death
d) providing a factual, objective medical report for law enforcement,
prosecution and defense agencies
e) separating death due to disease from death due to external cause for
protection of the innocent.

NEGATIVE AUTOPSY

 an autopsy which failed to establish cause of death after all efforts have been exhausted
 an autopsy which after a meticulous examination with the aid of other examination does
not yield any definite cause of death.

NEGLIGENT AUTOPSY
 an autopsy wherein no cause of death is found on account of imprudence,
negligence, lack of skill and lack of foresight of the examiner.

METHOD OF DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD BODY

1. Embalming- Artificial Mummification

2. Burial- Inhumation or Interment
- Is a method of placing the dead body in the grave.
- Funeral- it is the procession of the dead body followed by grieving
relatives, friends and other persons to the place of burial in accordance
with the religion, custom and traditions.

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3. Cremation- Is the burning of the dead body into ashes or pulverization of the body into
ashes by the application of heat or flames. Requirement: permit for cremation, Exact
identification of the deceased and exact cause of death has been ascertained.
4. Disposal of the dead body to the Sea.
5. Use of the Dead body for Scientific Purpose.

What is Exhumation- It is the raising or disinterring of the Dead body or remains from the
grave.

 Can be done only upon a lawful order, with permission from the Department of
Health.
 Remains of persons who died of non- dangerous, non-communicate diseases may
be disinterred after three (3) years.
 Remains of persons who died of dangerous communicable diseases may be
disinterred after five (5) years.

AUTOPSY PROCEDURES

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17
YOU MAY VISIT THE LINK TO WATCH A LIVE AUTOPSY PROCEDURE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO9GobNleUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHeFUT-11So
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRrhQfcGlKw

*******************************************THE END************************************

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