Customer Reviews

Spitz and Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At first I was hesitant to spend $120 on a reference book I couldn't manually look through (aside from the pages available for viewing through Amazon), but I took a chance. As a forensic scientist who is new to death investigation, this reference is well worth the money. From front to back, this book is packed with well-written, thorough discussions of the different causes and manners of death. The written information, complimented by hundreds of photos and illustrations, is presented in terms that are comprehensible even to those without a background in forensic pathology or medicine. For the amount and quality of information packed into this large volume, $120 is actually a steal. I absolutely recommend this reference for anyone who has a role in death investigation. Students of forensic science, if you're too broke to buy this, put it on your wish list and hope you get it as a graduation gift. It's a must-have that is worth the three-digit price tag.

This book is a wonderful reference for medical students going into pathology or students of forensic science. It give detailed descriptions of causes/manners/and mechanisms of death. This book give a review of natural deaths and deaths involving investigative techniques. Book also include graphic black a white pictures of autopsy techniques and of the deceased.

If you have come so far as to read this message, and you don't actually have this book, you're in a situation which you may want to correct right now. It's not A book in medicolegal investigation. It's THE book in this field. I have seen it quoted time and again in courtrooms (well, courtroom scripts) to grill the pathologist witness.

800+ pages, 800+ photos and illustrations. 8.5 x 11

(Sounds like an ad. It isn't. Just buy it.)

I read this book a couple of years ago for a short course at the University of New Orleans, and loved it. I keep it on my shelf for reference now, but will likely use it again soon when I go off to graduate school. The sections are very well-written, and can be understood by most anyone who has had at least some experience in this field. The case studies were paricularly relavant, and it would be nice to see more of that in further editions. Also, there are excellent descriptions and illustrations of gunshot and other homocide-related deaths - however, not as much information on accidental death or taphonomy as I would have liked.

I am a student in a Forensic Science Program, and this was a required text. I was greatly impressed with the depth and detail of the descriptions and explanations given throughout this text. The outline of the text was organized in a fluid fashion and the text was written in a manner that was very readable even for a student. Highly recomended to anyone interested in the area of criminal investigation and law enforcement.

This treatise should be in the legal library, and trial box, of every criminal defense attorney who tries murder cases. Buy it. Read it. Use it.

I have to add my 5 stars for this informative resource. It was my textbook for two courses. However, even after my classes ended I found myself referring back to the loads of information provided within the pages of this book. It is extremely comprehensive and well worth the investment.

*If you are not a student required to purchase a newer edition, I recommend looking at an earlier edition - I know that you'll get the same great information, just at a much discounted price.

"MEDICOLEGAL INVESTIGATION OF DEATH" 1993 Revised & Updated 3rd Edition - known as the "bible" of forensic pathology to pathologists around the world, has withstood the test of time. Totally rewritten and updated throughout, the text is oriented to forensic pathologists, criminal investigators, and attorneys. It embraces all aspects of the pathology of trauma as it is witnessed daily by law enforcement officers, interpreted by pathologists of varying experience and expertise in forensic pathology, and used by lawyers involved in the prosecution and defense in criminal cases as well as those engaged in civil litigation. This authoritative and complete textbook is written by some of the most respected experts in the United States. The table of contents reads as follows: History of Forensic Pathology and Related Laboratory Sciences; Time of Death and Changes After Death; Identification of Human Remains; Forensic Odontology Sudden and Unexpected Death From Natural Causes in Adults; Trauma and Disease; Blunt Force Injury; Sharp Force Injury; Injury by Gunfire; Thermal Injury; Asphyxia; Drowning; Electrical and Lightning Injuries; the Road Traffic Victim; Medicolegal Investigation of Mass Disasters; Mechanical Injuries of Brain and Meninges; Microscopic Forensic Pathology; Deaths in Childhood; Investigation of Deaths from Drug Abuse; Forensic Aspects of Alcohol; Selected Procedures at Autopsy; and the Medicolegal Autopsy Report. The book continues to use a simple and practical approach in keeping with the tradition established by the previous editions. It avoids technical terminology, where possible, in compliance with the aim of addressing not only physicians but all parties with an interest in the study of injury patterns and the practice of pathology as it relates to the law. A large amount of new information and abundant material not previously covered are included in this volume. The many new illustrations, diagrams and sketches showing patterns and mechanisms of injury as well as an inclusive index render this book unique.

read this book a couple of years ago for a short course at the University of New Orleans, and loved it. I keep it on my shelf for reference now, but will likely use it again soon when I go off to graduate school. The sections are very well-written, and can be understood by most anyone who has had at least some experience in this field. The case studies were paricularly relavant, and it would be nice to see more of that in further editions. Also, there are excellent descriptions and illustrations of gunshot and other homocide-related deaths

This is a great book, it's easy to read, it has excellent, detalied and graphic photographs. I highly recomend this book as a text or reference book.