A victim was stabbed in the left side of the neck in a fight and sustained a small superficial stab wound of the skin and jugular vein. There was a small pool of blood at the scene; the victim, however, expired in the ambulance on the way to the trauma center. Which of the following statements is Not True regarding this incident?
a. Air embolism is the cause of death.
b. Air embolism is the mechanism of death.
c. Stab wound is the cause of death.
d. Hemorrhage may be the mechanism of death in the absence of air embolism.
e. Manner of death is homicide.
Air embolism (air sucked into the vein, blocking the heart/pulmonary circulation). This makes b ($\text{Air embolism is the mechanism of death}$) True (as a possibility).
Statement a incorrectly lists a mechanism ($\text{Air embolism}$) as the cause of death. The cause is always the underlying injury ($\text{Stab wound}$).
Manner of Death: The legal classification of how the death occurred (Homicide, Suicide, Accidental, Natural, or Undetermined).
A death resulting from an injury inflicted by another person during a fight is legally classified as Homicide. This makes e ($\text{Manner of death is homicide}$) True
Sample Answer
Forensic Distinction of Death Terms
In forensic pathology, it's essential to differentiate the terms:
Cause of Death: The injury or disease that starts the chain of events leading to death.
In this case, the stab wound is the specific injury, making c ($\text{Stab wound is the cause of death}$) True.
Mechanism of Death: The physiological derangement or biochemical abnormality produced by the cause of death that ultimately results in the cessation of life (e.g., hemorrhage, air embolism, sepsis).
The stab wound cut the jugular vein, which can lead to two main life-threatening issues:
Hemorrhage (fatal blood loss). This makes d ($\text{Hemorrhage may be the mechanism of death...}$) True.