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LEGAL MEDICINE 4. Stab wound (saksak) – caused by an instrument sharp point with
a sharp edge. A small surgical incision caused by a thrust with a
 Branch of medicine which deals with the application of medical sharp instrument. (single/ double bladed).
knowledge to the purpose of law and in the administration of
justice. 5. Hacking wound (taga) [bolo/axe] – large incise wounds.
 The application of basic and clinical, medical and paramedical
sciences to elucidate legal matters. 6. Contusion (pasa) – tapture of blood vessels due to forceful
contact due to a blunt object or instrument. Another name for a
TYPES and NATURES of INJURY bruise.
1. Lacerated wound / tear (putok) – open wound caued by a blunt
object or instrument. A bruise or contusion is caused when blood vessels are damaged
or broken as the result of a blow to the skin. (be it bumping
These wounds are torn, rather than cut. They have ragged, against something or hitting yourself with a hammer.)
irregular edges and masses of torn tissue underneath. These
wounds are usually made by blunt, rather than sharp objects. 7. Hematoma (bukol) – blood cyst or tumor – extravassation of
blood that newly formed cavity, also cause by a blunt object.
Eg: Fist blow in the face, bump of the car, bamboo, lead pipe.
An abnormal localized collection of blood in which the blood is
2. Punctured wound (tusok) – caused by a sharp pointed instrument usually clotted or partially clotted and is usually situated within
or object. an organ or soft tissue space, such as within a muscle. A
hematoma is caused by a break in the wall of a blood vessel.
Punctures are caused by objects that penetrate into the tissues
while leaving a small surface opening. Wounds made by nails, 8. Abrasion (gasgas) – contact with a rough surface / friction or
needles, wire, and bullets are usually punctures. As a rule small scratching.
puncture wounds do not bleed freely.
Made when the skin is rubbed or scraped off. Rope burns, flood
Eg.: Syringe, needle, pen, ice pick, nail (.5cm.) burns, and skinned knees or elbows are common examples of
abrasions.
3. Incised wound (hiwa/ cut/ slash) – caused by a sharp edged This kind of wound can become infected quite easily because
instrument. Incisions, commonly called CUTS are wounds dirt and germs are usually embedded in the tissues.
caused by sharp cutting instruments such as knives, razors, and
broken glass. Incisions tend to bleed freely because the blood Types of Abrasions
vessels are cut cleanly and without ragged edges.
1. Linear
Eg.: Knife, blade, scalpel. 2. Multi-linear
3. Confluent (tapyas)
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Special Types of Wounds 1. Shell / cartridge

2. Gun powder – inside the shell
1. Patterned wound 3. Primer – made up of lead, antimony, barium
2. Defense wound 4. Projectile (tingga)
- A wound sustained when a victim places a hand, arm or other
body part to prevent or minimize a blow or slashing by a Products of Combustion
sharp weapon.
3. Self-inflicted wound 1. Smudging smoke or soop
4. Suicidal wound 2. Singeing – (kulot pag natamaan)
3. Tatooing, peppering, stippling
4. Contusion or collar
-would help determine the relative position between the assailant
Gun Shot Wounds – A person with a gunshot wound has an injury from or the victim and or the trajectory of the bullet.
a bullet that was fired from a gun.
Classification of Firearms Point of Entry Point of Exit

1. Short (revolver, pistol) Smaller and oval in Usually bigger and

2. Long (rifle, AK47, M16, Machine Gun etc.) shape unless it is a irregular or stellate in
close contact fire. shape.
Major parts of Firearm
The edges are Everted, and tissued
1. Barrel inverted are protruding.
2. Handle
3. Trigger Depending upon a Always negative.
4. Percussion cap distance, may be
5. Firing Pin positive for the
6. Muzzle products of
combustion and
Kinds of Ballistics paraffim.
Have a contusion or Absent
1. Internal / Interior – from the time you pull the trigger abrasion collar
2. External – from the time it leaves the barrel of the gun
3. Terminal – effect of the bullet on an object when hit
4. Medical – when a bullet hits human body. Perrafim test – used to determine whether the subject has recently fired
a gun or not.
Firearm identification – used to determine whether the gun that is
subject of the investigation has the same gun used or fired. -not used to determine whether the subject is the killer or shooter.
Parts of Ammunition (bala)
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-the value of the test is only presumptive, not conclusive, because of 2. Expert – goes to court to enlighten the court to render his expert
false positive and false negative results. opinion on matters.
- He has authority on that particular field.
FALSE POSITIVE
Subpoena – order issued by the court to a person to appear in court.
1. Subject recently fired a gun
-totally not related to the incident in question A “subpoena ad testificandum” is a court summons to appear and give
oral testimony for use at a hearing or trial.
2. Subject is a smoker
CONTEMPT OF COURT
3. Subject is a farmer who deals with
fertilizer. -any willfull disobedience to or disregard of a court order or any
misconduct in the presence of a court action that interferes with a
FALSE NEGATIVE judge’s ability to administer justice or that insults the dignity of the
court. Punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.
1. Subject is a professional
2. Incessant rushing with water and soap (suka) 2 kinds:
3. Paraffim test was done beyond 3 days from the time of incident.
Direct – inside the court room or anywhere in the court room
WITNESS
Indirect – outside the court room, defied the order of the court.
- A person who by perceiving and made known his perception
to others.
- Person who testifies under oath in a trial with first hand or
expert evidence useful in a lawsuit. VIRGINITY
- A person who sees an event.
- A condition of a female who has not experience sexual
Who cannot be a witness? intercourse and whose genital organs have not been alteres
by carnal connection and whose hymen is still intact.
-Those who cannot made known his perception to others
Virtuous Female
* Children
- If her body is pure and if she has never had any sexual
* Senile / Insane intercourse with another though her mind and heart is
impure.
* Those who have previously been convicted of perjury
Kinds of Virginity:
Two Types of Witnesses:
1. MORAL – the state of not knowing the nature of sexual life and
1. Ordinary – goes to court and specify what he has perceived. not having experienced sexual relation.
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- Applies to children below the age of puberty and whose sex - literally the term refers to a truly virgin woman; that there are
organs and secondary sex characters are not yet developed. structural changes in her organ to infer previous sexual intercourse and
2. PHYSICAL – condition whereby a woman is conscious of the that she is a virtuous woman.
nature of the sexual life but has not experienced sexual
intercourse. - inasmuch as there are no conclusive evidence to prove the existence of
such condition, liberal authorities extend the connotation of the term to
The term applies to women who have reached sexual maturity include women who have had previous sexual act or even habitually but
but have not experienced sexual intercourse. had not given birth.

Distinction between True and False Physical Virginity.

a) True Physical Virginity – a condition wherein hymen is intact Defloration – is the laceration or rupture of the hymen as a result of
with edges distinct and regular and the opening small to barely sexual intercourse.
admit the tip of the smallest finger of the examiners even if the
- All other lacerations of the hymen which are not caused by
thighs are separated.
sexual act are not considered as defloration.
b) False Physical Virginity – a condition wherein the hymen is
unruptured but the orifice is wide and elastic to admit two or Other causes of Hymenal Laceration:
more fingers of the examiner with a lesser degree of resistance.
-the hymen may be laxed and distensible and may have previous 1. Passage of clotted blood during menstruation
sexual relation. In this particular instance the physician may not 2. Ulceration due to disease like diphtheria
be able to make a convincing conclusion that the subject is 3. Jumping or Running
virgin. 4. Falling on hard sharp object
5. Medical instrumentation

3. DEMI-VIRGIN
-this term refers to a condition who permits any form of sexual 6. Self-scratching or irritation
liberties as long as they abstain from rupturing the hymen by 7. Masturbation
sexual act. 8. Insertion of foreign bodies
- the woman may be embraced, kissed, may allow her breasts to 9. Previous operation
be fondled, her private organ to be held and other lascivious acts. 10. Horseback riding
- the woman allows sexual intercourse but only “inter-femora” 11. Aerobics / biking
or even “inter-labia” but not to the extent of rupturing the 12. Throma to the genitalia
hymen.
- hymen is still intact Degree of Laceration:

4. “VIRGO INTACTA” a) Incomplete Laceration

- Rupture or laceration of the hymen is considered incomplete
when it does not involve the whole width or height of hymen.
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 Superficial – the laceration does not go beyond one-half of the MUSCULAR CHANGES in the BODY following DEATH
whole width of the hymen
 Deep – the laceration involves more than one-half of the width Importance: help us determine the approximate time of death.
of the hymen but not reaching the base. 1. Stage of Primary Flaccidity:

-AKA “post-mortem irritability.”

b) Complete Laceration -The muscles are relaxed and capable of contracting when
- The hymenal laceration involves the whole width but not stimulated.
beyond the base of the hymen -Died less than six (6) hours.

c) Compound or Complicated 2. Stage of Post Mortem Rigidity:

- The laceration involves the hymen and also the surrounding
tissues. -AKA “Rigor Mortis”
- It may involve the hymen also the surrounding tissues. -The whole body becomes rigid due to the contraction of the
- It may involve the perineum, vaginal canal, urethra or muscles.
rectum. - Six (6) – twenty four(24) hours

DEATH 3. Stage of Secondary Flaccidity / Onset of Decomposition:

- Complete cessation of all cardio-pulmonary (heart-lungs) -AKA “commencement of putrefaction”

and/or cessation of brain activity. -Relaxed and soft but with foul odor
- 24-36 hours ++
3 Kinds of Death
Forensic Entomology – involves the insects that are eating up the
1. Somatic Death / Clinical Death body.
o Dead for less than 3 hours.
o Dead, but cells are still alive
POST MORTEM LIVIDITY
2. Molecular /Cellular Death -it occurs in most extensive areas of the most dependent portions of
o Dead for 3-6 hours the body.
o Death also of the cells
3. “Apparent Death” or State of Suspended Animation Importance: to determine the position of the body when the person
o Transient loss of consciousness or died.
o Temporary cessation of the vital functions of the body
- It is important to determine the condition of suspended 2 KINDS:
animation to prevent premature burial. 1. HYPOSTATIC LIVIDITY – blood still fluid on form.
2. DIFFUSION LIVIDITY – blood has already coagulated, blood
already clotted.
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An autopsy may be official and non official, the differences are as

follows:
POST MORTEM EXAMINATION
OFFICIAL NON-OFFICIAL /
- Intermal examination of the dead. NON MEDICO LEGAL
Importance: to determine the cause of death.
-medico legal or -hospital based or
AUTOPSY: mandatory autopsy. elective autopsy

- Both the internal and external examination of the dead. -done on those who -done to those who
died on non-natural died from natural
NEGATIVE AUTOPSY – after the autopsy, cause of death is still causes causes
unknown.
-NO NEED for -consent from next
NEGLIGENT AUTOPSY – cause of death is still unknown because of consent of the next of kin is needed,
so many errors committed during the autopsy. of kin. they will decide
whether it will be a
-always a TOTAL TOTAL or
autopsy PARTIAL autopsy.
-Only those -by the pathologist
authorized by law of the hospital
may perform this
kind of autopsy