FSC271 FINAL EXAM PRACTICE

Cases that have the potential to cause immediate harm to the public.

Evidence that can deteriorate or be lost over time, requiring immediate analysis.

Cases that require approval from a supervisor or high-ranking official before proceeding.

Cases that attract significant public attention and media coverage due to their nature.

The ethical principles that guide forensic experts in their work, similar to those followed by medical professionals.

In forensic science, quality assurance (QA) programs ensure scientific and technical procedures are reliable and accurate.

Proactive ethical guidelines help forensic professionals make morally sound decisions.

Normative ethics provides a framework for determining right from wrong.

Deontology emphasizes moral duty and following rules, even if the outcome isn't ideal.

Utilitarianism prioritizes maximizing overall happiness and well-being, even if it means breaking rules.

Prioritize the most important evidence based on its relevance to the case. This optimizes resources and helps get justice quicker.

In cases with limited resources, forensic analysts must choose which evidence to test first, given limited lab space, time, and personnel. They factor-in the probability of getting useful results to make the best choices.

Examining all evidence can be wasteful if a case has a large number of items. It's best to prioritize the most important evidence first so that the results can be used to direct further investigation.

Focus on cases that are likely to yield useful results with the available resources, given the potential for a backlog.

The ethics framework that emphasizes the importance of acting with integrity and in a way that benefits all involved in the legal process, including the victims and the accused.

The practice of selecting which evidence samples to collect and send for analysis, balancing priorities with available resources.

The workload of a crime lab can affect the speed of analysis, with a backlog of evidence requiring more time.

Cases involving more serious crimes, such as homicide or sexual assault, are often given higher priority for evidence testing.

Cases with a known perpetrator are often prioritized over cases with an unknown assailant.

Cases where witness statements are crucial may be prioritized to avoid memory loss over time.

Cases that involve a violent act are often prioritized over non-violent crimes.

The process of determining which types of forensic analysis are necessary to assist in solving a particular case.

Certain cases may be expedited and given priority due to their urgency, severity, or other factors.

The amount of time it takes to get results from a crime lab, specifically for DNA testing.

The potential for harm to the public, resulting from delayed DNA testing.

The process of identifying a suspect based on their DNA, which is essential for catching criminals.

The use of DNA analysis to connect a suspect to a crime.

The financial expense associated with the slow processing of DNA evidence.

The responsibility of governing bodies to ensure public safety and protection.

The potential for the government to be held legally accountable for inadequate public safety measures.

A criminal who specifically targets sexual victims.

The importance of finding the right balance between using public funds efficiently and effectively.

The act of prioritising investigations based on the urgency of the case.

The gap between when evidence should be processed and when it is actually analyzed.

Situations where victims who have been sexually assaulted don't come forward for fear that their evidence won't be analyzed, which undermines the entire purpose of the process.

The principle that states that the pain caused to a victim should always outweigh any pleasure or benefit gained by anyone else.

The act of examining evidence in sexual assault cases that happened long ago.

A phenomenon where testing old rape kits can lead to trauma for victims, causing emotional distress, PTSD, and potentially affecting their substance use.

The practice of discarding rape kits, which can lead to justice being denied to victims and hinder future investigations.

An organization that plays a crucial role in exonerating individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes, often through DNA testing of old evidence.

The lack of a simple solution for prioritizing evidence testing in forensic labs.

The importance of considering the broader context when deciding on testing priorities, looking beyond individual cases to the bigger picture of justice and society.

The need for a comprehensive approach when dealing with sexual assault evidence, taking into account the needs of victims, the demands of justice, and the limitations of forensic labs.

A medical examination of a deceased individual to determine the cause of death, typically performed by a trained pathologist.

A type of autopsy performed in a hospital setting, primarily focused on examining a deceased person's medical history and diseases.

A type of autopsy conducted as part of a coroner's investigation into unexpected or unexplained deaths. It goes beyond general pathology and often doesn't require consent.

A legal inquiry into a death, conducted by a coroner, to determine the cause of death and circumstances surrounding it.

A legal document issued after death, certifying that cremation of the deceased is permitted and meets legal requirements.

The ethical dilemma surrounding autopsy procedures, especially when certain religious beliefs may clash with the practice.

A group of individuals, usually with expertise in the field, responsible for overseeing a particular area of practice or regulation.

A register or list containing the names of qualified pathologists who are authorized to perform autopsies in specific cases.

Families may struggle to make informed decisions about autopsies due to shock, grief, and cognitive impairment. Ethical concerns arise as families might not fully process the implications of their choices.

Indigenous communities often hold distinct beliefs about death, burial, and mourning practices. These beliefs must be considered when investigating deaths and handling remains, particularly when dealing with potential burial sites associated with residential schools.

The Special Interlocutor's mandate is to identify necessary measures and recommend new legal frameworks ensuring respectful and culturally appropriate treatment of unmarked graves at former residential schools.

Long-held beliefs and deeply rooted customs can create obstacles in death investigations. Respecting personal beliefs is crucial, even if they differ from medical perspectives.

Autopsy benefits include gaining knowledge about rare or contagious diseases, preventing future deaths, providing medical insights to families, and potentially offering peace of mind.

Grief counselors offer emotional support and act as intermediaries between grieving families and investigators, ensuring open communication and sensitivity during difficult times.

Maintaining professional objectivity during death investigations can be challenging, especially when dealing with grieving families. Investigators must balance their duty with compassion and respect.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GDR) is a tool used to detect disturbances in the ground, but it should not be the sole source of evidence for human remains. Actual excavation is crucial for verifying the presence of human remains.

A thorough investigation involving excavation and identification of human remains is essential for the closure and healing of Indigenous communities impacted by historical injustices associated with residential schools.

The Pikangikum Fire tragedy highlighted the importance of coordinated response and communication in remote locations, ensuring efficient investigation and respectful handling of victims and their families.

Ethical considerations in death investigations are crucial to respecting the deceased, their families, and the communities involved. This includes ensuring proper handling of remains, conducting thorough investigations, and supporting cultural sensitivities.

The tragedy of the Pikangikum fire emphasizes the importance of community involvement and support during difficult times. This includes providing resources for survivors, supporting grieving families, and preserving cultural practices.

The involvement of Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations in investigating historical injustices ensures a culturally sensitive and inclusive approach. This fosters trust and encourages participation in the healing process.

The Special Interlocutor's role goes beyond just gathering information. It involves advocating for survivors, facilitating reconciliation, and ensuring a just outcome for Indigenous communities impacted by residential schools.

Cases like the Pine Creek excavation emphasize the importance of careful investigation and evidence collection. The goal is to reach accurate conclusions about the past and provide closure and healing to the affected communities.

Retaining organs after an autopsy without informing the family.

The process of formally investigating a death to determine the cause and circumstances.

A key ethical principle in autopsy practices that ensures families are informed of retained organs and reasons.

Specific reasons justified by the Chief Forensic Pathologist or Chief Coroner to retain organs after an autopsy.

The family's right to decide the final disposition of a retained organ after investigation.

The increased risk of misidentifying a deceased person in situations with multiple victims and severe trauma.

The practice of informing grieving families about organ retention and reasons.

A situation where a deceased person is misidentified as someone else, leading to potential emotional distress and complications for the family.

The use of dental records to help identify deceased individuals, especially when other methods are unreliable.

A legal inquiry into a death, conducted by a coroner, to determine the cause of death and circumstances surrounding it.

A practice where the hands of a deceased individual are removed, typically to obtain fingerprints, when other methods are impossible or potentially distressing.

The legal right to control the disposal of a deceased person's body, including burial, cremation, and other arrangements. It does not extend to the removal of organs without consent.

A case where the autopsy showed the deceased's brain tissue was needed to rule out potential causes of death, such as epilepsy. The family sued over the retention of the organ without their consent.

The practice of preserving tissue, like brain tissue, in formalin to prevent decay and allow for further examination. This process takes 2 weeks.

A medical ethicist, Dr. Caplan, argued that while there's a duty to investigate potential criminal activity, it doesn't justify keeping organs without the family's informed consent.

In the Jesse's death case, the family viewed the request to retain the deceased's brain as adding to their already traumatic experience.

A court ruling that upheld the right of medical examiners to retain organs for investigative purposes, even without explicit consent from the family, based on the common-law 'Right of Sepulcher'.

The Shipley family filed a lawsuit against the medical examiner for keeping Jesse's brain without their consent. They were initially awarded $1 million, but this was later reduced to $600,000.

The argument against displaying the brain without family consent, even if it's legally okay to take it for investigation purposes.