Foreign Matter and Surgery: A Forensic Approach to Identification and Source Determination
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences is holding its annual convention this week (17-22 February 2025) in Baltimore, MD. Microtrace Senior Research Microscopist Christopher Palenik was invited to participate in the criminalistics panel discussion entitled “Criminalistics Gone Wrong.” This panel will discuss how forensic reporting and courtroom testimony have been impacted by innovative technologies and new machine learning tools. Specifically, attendees will hear how the different forensic disciplines have been changing and adapting to address current challenges and mitigate biases in reporting and testimony.
Additionally, Dr. Palenik will present to the pathology section today (19 February 2025). His talk, “Foreign Matter and Surgery: A Forensic Approach to Identification and Source Determination” will review a variety foreign matter that may be encountered during surgery and help the audience to understand: (1) why it can be important to collect and retain foreign matter recovered during an operation; (2) foreign matter preservation considerations and why they are important; (3) what may be achieved through a forensic analysis of this matter; and (4) how such information may be used in forensic matters.
Abstract
Foreign Matter and Surgery: A Forensic Approach to Identification and Source Determination. Christopher S. Palenik, PhD, Microtrace LLC, Elgin, IL
Abstract Text: Foreign matter of various types may be indicated or encountered before, during, or after medical or dental procedures. Such materials may be suspected or recognized through symptoms, imaging, or surgery. Despite encountering foreign matter, or suspected foreign matter, perhaps even with some degree of regularity, doctors and pathologists are not necessarily trained to analyze and identify these materials. The goals of this presentation are to discuss and illustrate: (1) why it may be important to collect and retain foreign matter recovered during an operation; (2) considerations that might be taken to preserve foreign matter so as to maximize future evidentiary potential; (3) the facts that may be established through a forensic, microanalytical study of recovered specimens; and (4) how such information may be utilized by interested parties.
Over the past 30-plus years, our laboratory has regularly encountered a wide range of foreign matter and suspected foreign matter recovered from the human body during surgery. These have included foreign matter from eyes, posteriors, abdomens, gastrointestinal tracts, and lungs, among other parts of the body. The recovered substances have included: (1) surgical materials that were unintentionally left in a patient during surgery; (2) the use of incorrect surgical materials; (3) contamination introduced either with surgical devices or from a surgical environment; (4) unintentionally ingested materials or respirated particles that required surgical removal, (5) fistulas that have let undigested substances into incompatible areas of the body; and (6) substances that have been introduced during non-licensed surgical procedures. By means of examples from casework, this presentation will discuss and illustrate the role that microanalysis has played in identifying these materials in order to address a variety of questions that have arisen in legal matters. Following the identification of an unknown item, there is frequently a subsequent request to determine, or at least place constraints on, the possible source or point of origin of the substance that was identified. When potential source materials are available, such analyses can be approached through a formal process of forensic comparison. In other instances, when suspected source materials are not available, the characteristics determined by microanalysis can often be used, ab initio, to identify or constrain the source of an unknown substance.
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences is a multi-disciplinary professional organization that provides leadership to advance science and its application to the legal system. The objectives of the Academy are to promote professionalism, integrity, competency, education, foster research, improve practice, and encourage collaboration in the forensic sciences.
Each February, the AAFS scientific meeting gathers together approximately 5,000 world-renowned professionals to present the most current information, research, and updates in their fields. More than 900 scientific papers, seminars, workshops, and other special sessions are presented. In addition, approximately 150 exhibitors showcase the cutting-edge technology and services of this ever-changing profession.
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