Page 2 - Understanding Medicolegal Conclusions - AFI-LLC February 2023

Understanding Medicolegal Conclusions – AFI-LLC – February 2023 2 of 5

Agency Information & Principals' CVs - Expert Analysis / Consultations
Current information on our primary agency website for services, forms, and CVs.
-- Your Investigators - www.DeathCaseReview.com/Principals-Bios
-- Dean's CV - http://dab-cv.DeathCaseReview.com (updated January 2023)
-- Karen's CV - http://ksb-cv.DeathCaseReview.com (updated January 2023)

We bridge the crime scene and autopsy with Expert Medicolegal Consultations in Civil, Criminal
and Insurance Interpleader litigation, as well as Family Questioned Deaths. Forensic and
Medicolegal Death Investigations reviewing and analyzing "the totality of the circumstances of
the fatal or non-fatal event and the competency of the official investigation, with respect to
death investigation protocol and standards."

Together We’re Better!

December Commentary: Understanding Medicolegal Conclusions in Death or Serious Bodily Injury

Understanding Medicolegal Conclusions in Death or Serious Bodily Injury

As Expert Medicolegal Investigators, we investigate, review, and consult in death and serious
bodily injury (SBI) cases more than any other services we provide. We do so for civil,
criminal, and probate litigation, as well in cases of questioned insurance benefits – most
commonly accident vs. suicide, and also the actions of the insured party leading up to the
covered event. These are most often for attorneys, and also other investigators. We also
provide services in select private family cases of questioned deaths.

We will review, and then if substantiated, investigate starting with the official investigation records, reports and
photographs. These are numerous, and much more than the standard police report or autopsy report – which are no
different than our own – they are reports of findings based on evidence. We want to see the evidence, and possibly –
most often – find more evidence. We will analyze and review the official investigation and provide an expert opinion if
standard protocols and practices were followed, and if the official findings are consistent with the evidence. We will
then make recommendations if further investigation is warranted by our agency, and/or our consulting forensic
pathologist and consulting forensic toxicologist, including other experts.

Cause and Manner is not exclusive to death investigations. Similar processes and findings are used in SBI cases, and also
civil and criminal cases, fire investigations, motor vehicle collisions, and more. Understanding these two components,
and their differences, is necessary to understanding the roles of involved investigators and experts.

In death investigations, the Cause of Death is a medical finding and opinion – and is the medical reason for death. These
are based on a medicolegal probability conclusion – not a legal certainty. In other cases, such as fire or motor vehicle
collisions it would be the series of events giving the reason for the fire or collision. This is determined from investigative
and forensic evidence, direct and circumstantial. This may be determined by any combination of, or only: autopsy
(medical or forensic), investigation, or review of the medical records.

Next is the Manner of Death – which is a medicolegal finding – and is a category: Natural – a medical or health factor;
Accident – due to the person’s or another’s actions without intent; Suicide – due the person’s actions with knowledge
and/or intent; Homicide – due to another person’s actions with knowledge and/or intent; and Undetermined – in which
the evidence is inconclusive as to a specific Manner. The same Cause of Death – such as an overdose, gunshot wound, or
motor vehicle collision – may have different applicable Manners due to the circumstances within the Cause. A person
may die or have a SBI due to an overdose, gunshot wound, or motor vehicle collision and the Manner be Accident,
Homicide (or attempted), Suicide (or attempted), or Undetermined. A motor vehicle collision could be due to a medical
event and be Natural. Careful, skilled, and experienced investigation is important to ascertaining the facts and findings.

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