MCCCD Program Description

Forensic Pathology: Advanced Death Investigation

Course: AJS245

First Term: 2006 Summer I

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: An advanced examination of the role of the medical examiner in crime scene investigations, mass disasters, motor vehicle accidents, and other unnatural deaths. Covers basic forensic biomechanics, advanced forensic anthropology and the role of the medical examiner as an expert court witness

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Explain the procedures used by the medical examiner during crime scene investigations. (I) 2. Explain basic principles of kinematics and kinetics. (II) 3. Explain biological tissue response to loading and deformation during trauma. (III) 4. Explain and demonstrate crime scene investigation procedures. (IV) 5. Explain basic concepts in momentum, force, time and the impulse equation. (V) 6. Describe techniques of forensic anthropology. (VI) 7. Describe protocols used by law enforcement agencies involved in a mass disaster response. (VII) 8. Describe the ways forensic pathology can aid in the investigation of motor vehicle accidents. (VIII) 9. Describe protocols used in the investigation of child abuse and rape. (IX) 10. Describe the role of the medical examiner in court. (X) 11. Discuss the uses of forensic pathology on live patients. (XI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Crime Scene Investigation A. Role of the forensic investigator B. Role of the medical examiner C. Documenting the crime scene II. Forensic Biomechanics: Kinematics and Kinetics A. Kinematics B. Kinetics C. Case studies III. Forensic Biomechanics: Biological Tissue Response A. Response to loading A. Kinematics B. Kinetics C. Case studies III. Forensic Biomechanics: Biological Tissue Response A. Response to loading B. Loads and Deformation C. Case studies IV. Crime Scene Investigation Procedures V. Forensic Biomechanics: Basic Concepts A. Basic concepts in momentum, force and time B. The impulse equation C. Case studies VI. The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Identification of Human Remains A. Determination of gender B. Determination of age C. Determination of race VII. Mass Disasters: Interagency Functions and the Role of the Medical Examiner A. Special problems encountered during mass disasters B. Identification efforts following hurricanes, e.g. Katrina C. Protocols used by law enforcement agencies VIII. Motor Vehicle Accidents A. Pattern injuries B. Scene investigation IX. Death and Abuse in Children A. Investigation of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) vs. Infanticide B. Investigation of child abuse 1. Battered children 2. Neglected children 3. Munchausen`s Syndrome by Proxy X. Role of the Medical Examiner as an Expert Witness in Court XI. Forensic Pathology on Live Patients and Rape Homicides A. Investigation of sexual assault 1. The rape kit 2. Protocols 3. The rape-homicide B. Evaluation of injuries on live patients

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 2/28/2006

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.