The Duty of Medicine Doctor to Notify the Unusual Death.

Korean J Leg Med. 2002 Oct;26(2):51-55. Korean.

Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University Medical College, Korea. lemedr@intizen.com

The medical doctors are obliged to notify the police the unusual death. The manner of death and the cause of death is determined by clinical aspect but the unusual death is determined by legal aspect, so forensic investigation is need to determine the unusual death. The unusual death is the one which occurred in doubt of crime, so if the specific disease could not explain the course of death or the external force would influence the course of disease, which should be regarded as the unusual death. the suicide in which accessory is involved should be regarded as unusual death. The sudden death syndrome should be regard as the unusual death. The death due to the primary shock, anorexia nervosa, to refuse the treatment against medical advice could be regarded as unusual death. The medical doctor should be regarded as to fulfill his duty when he notifies the police which have the jurisdiction over his hospital.

Key Words : Unusual death, Medical doctor, Duty of notification