Jennifer C. Love, Sharon M. Derrick, Jason M. Wiersema (eds): Skeletal atlas of child abuse

Excerpt

Child abuse is one of the most contentious areas of forensic pathology. In fatal cases the autopsy is one of the central components of investigations and ideally results in a clear cause and manner of death and a complete documentation of all injuries. Since the injuries can affect the skin, soft tissues, and organs as well as the skeleton, in some countries forensic pathologists and forensic anthropologists work together in cases of child abuse. A good example for such a collaborative approach is the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, Texas, where all three authors work as forensic anthropologists and therefore possess a great practical experience of skeletal injuries due to fatal child abuse. …