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Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 1/2021

01-03-2021 | External Post-Mortem Examination | Commentary

Is the role of forensic medicine in the covid-19 pandemic underestimated?

Authors: Milenko Bogdanović, Tatjana Atanasijević, Vesna Popović, Zoran Mihailović, Bojana Radnić, Tijana Durmić

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

We believe that forensic medicine should play a significant role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Forensic pathologists should ask and answer various questions through autopsy cases during the COVID-19 period, thus providing a significant contribution to science. Some of the potential roles of forensic medicine in this issue include: determining the exact cause of death among the deceased who were SARS-CoV-2 positive, contribution to the accuracy of mortality statistics, understanding pathological mechanisms of COVID-19, tracking the presence of the virus over time, survival of the virus after death as well as dealing with medicolegal issues. A detailed multidisciplinary analysis of autopsy samples would undoubtedly help understand this new illness and its clinical management. Therefore, autopsies during the COVID-19 pandemic should not be an exception, but certainly a rule.
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Metadata
Title
Is the role of forensic medicine in the covid-19 pandemic underestimated?
Authors
Milenko Bogdanović
Tatjana Atanasijević
Vesna Popović
Zoran Mihailović
Bojana Radnić
Tijana Durmić
Publication date
01-03-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-020-00308-2

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