Self fabricated wounds

forensic medicine

1. Self fabricated wounds BY AMINA KHAN

2. DEFINITION: Fabricated wounds are those which may be produced by a person on his own body( SELF INFLICTED). Or by another person acting in agreement with him ( SELF SUFFERED). They are usually superficial. Consists of a series of parallel or crossing incisions.

3. MOTIVE They may be produced due to the following reasons: To charge an enemy with assault or attempted murder. To make a simple injury appear serious. By the assailant to pretend self defence or to change the appearance of wounds, which might connect him with the crime.

4. Motive: 4. By policemen and watchmen acting in collusion with robbers to show that they were defending the property. 5. In thefts by servants or messengers for the above reason. 6. By prisoners, to bring a charge of beating against officers. 7. By recruits to escape military service. 8. By women to bring a charge of rape against an enemy.

5. Typical features: . Infliction either by sharp/pointed instruments or by fingernails. . Equally shallow , non penetrating cuts or fingernail abrasions ( sometimes each of considerable lengths) . multitude of individual lesions. . Uniform shape, linear or slightly curved course of the lesions. . Grouped/parallel/ criss -cross arrangement.

6. features: . Symmetry or preferance of the nondominant side of the body(usually the left) . Location in easily reachable body regions. . Omission of especially sensitive body organs. . No damage of the clothes. . Lack of defense injuries. . Additional presence of scars from former self –injurious behaviour.

7. CHARACTERISTICS 1.Injury types 2.Nature of injuries 3.Clothing 4.Defense wounds 5.History

8. 1.Injury types Generally they are cuts,occasionaly stab wounds and rarely firearm injuries. 2 . Nature of injuries . Seen on parts readily accessible to the individuals. . The injuries are usually superficial and multiple. . Not situated on vital parts of the body.

9. 3. clothing A person rarely injures himself through his clothing and even if the clothes are damaged,they are not compatible with the number,length or direction of the wound. 4. Defence wounds Defense wounds are absent.

10. Types of wounds: . Fabricated wounds are mostly incised wounds,and sometimes contusions,stab wounds and burns. > B ecause incised wounds are usually superficial, multiple and parallel. Equal depth at origin and termination. They avoid vital and sensitive areas like the eyes,lip,nose and ears.

11. . These wounds are sometimes stab wounds because : Stab wounds are usually multiple and superficial . Seen on the left arm or shoulder and sometimes on the chest.

12. Its done mostly in front of wrist,neck,front or outside of arm,front or outer of thigh,front of chest ,abdomen.

13. THANK YOU