Forensic aspects related to pediatric pathology - medicolegal aspects of pediatric head injuries

Abstract

The pathological examination and assessment of inflicted head injuries in infants and young children are often complicated by the subtle nature of the injuries, the non-specificity of lesions, and the lack of experimental data that can be used to clarify possible forces and mechanisms of damage. Opinions often have to be given on a number of issues, with a paucity of information in the literature and lack of specific individual experience. The following paper reviews some of the problems that are currently found in the medicolegal evaluation of infants and young children with inflicted craniocerebral trauma and issues that consequently arise in court.