Viewing the bodies following disaster: Does it help?

Ba, Peter Hodgkinson; AFBPsS,; CPsychol,

doi:10.1080/02682629508657347

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The study also highlighted the range of reasons for wanting and not wanting to view the body and how reactions changed over time, a finding found in previous studies (Hodgkinson, 1995;Raphael, 1997):…”

Section: Viewing the Bodymentioning

confidence: 83%

Initial management of bereaved relatives following trauma

Parris

2011

Trauma

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Emergency department (ED) staff confront death more frequently than any other specialty except oncology. These deaths are often traumatic, sudden, unexpected and occur in a younger age group. As a consequence, bereaved survivors have a greater risk of an abnormal grief reaction. [Walters DT, Tupin JP (1991) Family grief in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America 9(1): 189-206.] Whilst the severity or timing of traumatic injuries may preclude medical attempts to influence patient survival, the approach of the same resuscitation team to the bereaved before death, during resuscitation and after death may have profound influences on subsequent grief in the bereaved. Despite this, it can be argued that Emergency Medicine within the UK has given little thought and time for reflection upon how we treat the bereaved. That the care of the dying and the bereaved within the ED matters is greatly reinforced by the Scottish Government's 2010 Consultation document on bereavement that states: 'There is . . . evidence that the way [the] bereaved experience events around the time of death will influence their grief. Where health services get it right . . . bereaved people are supported to accept the death . . . Conversely if the health services get it wrong, then bereaved people may experience additional distress, and that distress will interfere with their successful transition through the grieving process'.

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Section: Viewing the Bodymentioning

confidence: 83%

Initial management of bereaved relatives following trauma

Parris

2011

Trauma

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“…In the M/S Estonia disaster visual identification by next-of-kin was tentatively used in 48% of cases, but proved to be unreliable [19] with one member of the crew even falsely identified another crew member based on ante-mortem and post-mortem photographs [20]. After the Zeebrugge ferry disaster bodies recovered immediately were mostly identified visually by next-of-kin [21]. However, one small group of relatives made premature misidentifications, whilst others had to make repeated visits, even when the corpse showed minimal physical damage, allowing subtle changes in the face to block acceptance of reality [21].…”

Section: Historical Context and Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the Zeebrugge ferry disaster bodies recovered immediately were mostly identified visually by next-of-kin [21]. However, one small group of relatives made premature misidentifications, whilst others had to make repeated visits, even when the corpse showed minimal physical damage, allowing subtle changes in the face to block acceptance of reality [21]. The social, legal and religious implications of misidentification are enormous and international investigative authorities advocate that it is vital to identify the deceased for the return to the family for cultural/religious observance, for grieving and acceptance of death and for judicial matters of estate [18].…”

Section: Historical Context and Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of the changing culture and social context relating to forensic facial depiction of the dead

Wilkinson

2014

Forensic Science International

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The recognition of a decedent by a family member is commonplace in forensic investigation and is often employed as identity confirmation. However, it is recognized that misidentification from facial recognition is also common and faces of the dead may be extremely difficult to recognize due to decomposition or external damage, and even immediate post-mortem changes may be significant enough to confuse an observer. The depiction of faces of the dead can be a useful tool for promoting recognition leading to identification and post-mortem facial depiction is described as the interpretation of human remains in order to suggest the living appearance of an individual. This paper provides an historical context relating to the changing view of society to the presentation and publication of post-mortem facial depictions and discusses the current ethical, practical and academic challenges associated with these images. We submit a paper to be considered for publication in the Forensic Science International as a review paper.The research has not been presented at any conference, nor published in any publication, nor submitted for publication to any other journal or publication.There are no conflicts of interest or publication problems, or additional information appropriate to the publication. ABSTRACTThe recognition of a decedent by a family member is commonplace in forensic investigation and is often employed as identity confirmation. However, it is recognized that misidentification from facial recognition is also common and faces of the dead may be extremely difficult to recognize due to decomposition or external damage, and even immediate post-mortem changes may be significant enough to confuse an observer. The depiction of faces of the dead can be a useful tool for promoting recognition leading to identification and post-mortem facial depiction is described as the interpretation of human remains in order to suggest the living appearance of an individual. This paper provides an historical context relating to the changing view of society to the presentation and publication of post-mortem facial depictions and discusses the current ethical, practical and academic challenges associated with these images.

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“…In adult deaths, relatives had increased distress when they saw the body after a traumatic death (Feigelman, Jordan, & Gorman, 2008); at the scene of the death (Callahan, 2000); or after autopsy when they had not been present at the death (Ogata, Nishi, & Maeda, 2009). Studies after disasters show better outcomes particularly in the longer term for viewers (Hodgkinson, 1995). Regret about not viewing is linked to intrusive fantasies or imagining the death (Singh & Raphael, 1981).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%