Mason's Forensic Medicine for Lawyers

Mason's Forensic Medicine for Lawyers remains a most valuable addition to the practitioner's law library, whether for a criminal trial; or for a civil personal injury claim... -- Sally Ramage * The Criminal Lawyer * ...a welcome, and welcoming, guide to medicine and medical issues presented by the interaction between law and what is a daunting and complex topic...The book navigates practitioners through complex issues with reference to clearly drawn diagrams and simple explanations, seemingly neither patronising nor inappropriately assuming knowledge...packs a lot in for a relatively modest price. It is a useful addition to every chambers or firm. -- Dan Bunting * UK Criminal Law Blog *

Professor Helen Whitwell is Emeritus Home Office Forensic Pathologist and former Professor of Forensic Pathology. Katy Thorne is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and specialises in criminal trials and appeals. Dr Alexander Kolar is a Forensic Pathologist on the Home Officer Register covering the West Midlands region. Paul Harvey, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers has been a lawyer in the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights since 2005 and has worked on cases against the United Kingdom involving mental health.

Contents 1 Introduction to human anatomy and physiology 2 An introduction to clinical medicine and clinical investigation 3 The autopsy procedure 4 Medical aspects of death 5 Coroners' courts and fatal accident inquiries 6 Sudden natural death 7 Wounding: injuries and their interpretation 8 Ballistics: injury and death due to firearms 9 Head injury and other brain pathology 10 Major blunt impact trauma: road traffic collisions and falls 11 Asphyxia, pressure to the neck and similar entities 12 Drowning and hypothermia 13 Heat, fire and electricity 14 Child injuries and deaths 15 Sexual assaults 16 Forensic odontology 17 Forensic toxicology 18 Care of detainees 19 Deaths in state settings 20 Criminal justice in the United Kingdom 21 Role and duties of the expert