PTMSIK ds. formalnych i medycznych aspektów stwierdzania zgonu opracował zestaw algorytmów postępowania dla osób stwierdzających zgon w warunkach pozaszpitalnych. Nadrzędnym celem niniejszego opracowania jest uporządkowanie oraz ujednolicenie postępowania w sytuacjach związanych ze stwierdzaniem zgonu poza podmiotami leczniczymi, z uwzględnieniem zarówno aspektów medycznych, jak i obowiązujących regulacji prawnych.

Niniejszy dokument wraz z załącznikami stanowi zbiór zaleceń dla lekarzy/lekarek wykonujących sądowo-lekarskie badania pokrzywdzonych, opracowanych w celu ujednolicenia dokumentacji opiniodawczej w zakresie oceny stopnia uszczerbku na zdrowiu u osób żywych. Schemat rutynowego działania dotyczy dokumentowania obrażeń zewnętrznych (lub ich braku), nie obejmuje natomiast oceny odległych następstw urazu oraz przypadków szczególnych.

The pacification of the striking workers of the 'Wujek' coal mine on 16 December 1981 was one of the most serious crimes committed during the martial law imposed by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Nine miners died from gunshot wounds and were examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Katowice, then headed by Professor Władysław Nasiłowski. This article presents Nasiłowski's consolidated report of those examinations and selected recollections of staff members previously dispersed across press and online sources.

The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of 3D surface scanning of corpses as a procedure for collecting and archiving evidence material in forensic medical practice. The research material consisted of surface scans of the bodies of deceased individuals undergoing autopsy at the request of the prosecutor's office. Scanning was performed non‑invasively, without direct contact between the device and the body, using an Apple LiDAR sensor and the Recon3D application. The procedure included three stages: scanning the body in clothing, without clothing, and after washing; at each stage, both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the body were recorded. The examination produced digital 3D models of the corpses in the form of computer files, enabling interactive viewing, taking measurements, generating cross‑sections, and comparing the models with other 3D objects on the same scale. The models were also presented without perspective distortion, which allowed the correct proportions and dimensions of the body to be preserved. Using the obtained models in combination with data from the scene, biological and technical traces, and other 3D materials made it possible to analyze the course of events in various types of cases, including shootings, stab wounds, pedestrian impacts, falls from height, and beatings. The study emphasizes that 3D surface scanning of corpses does not replace traditional photographic documentation but constitutes a significant extension of it. The conclusions indicate that the method is fast, non‑invasive, and useful both for archiving and for later analysis of evidence material. The resulting models increase the visual value of the documentation, facilitate integration with other imaging studies, can be quickly shared with remote experts, and may serve as a basis for reconstructing the probable course of events in a 3D environment.

Genetic testing, although regarded as the gold standard in the identification of human remains of unknown identity, is subject to significant limitations resulting from the degradation of biological material and the absence of comparative reference samples. This paper presents the case of an unidentified male (NN) whose body exhibited extensive mechanical trauma and advanced thermal alterations. The severity of soft‑tissue destruction precluded visual identification, while the lack of reference material rendered DNA analysis impossible. The key diagnostic tool in this case was a comparative assessment of antemortem and postmortem radiological documentation, specifically panoramic radiographs. An attempt was also made to evaluate the morphology of the paranasal sinuses using computed tomography; however, extensive fractures of the facial skeleton prevented meaningful analysis. This case demonstrates that odontological examination, based on the unique combination of dental features, constitutes a reliable and effective method of identification in forensic medical practice, particularly in circumstances that limit or preclude the use of genetic techniques.

The article presents the results of forensic medical examinations of human remains discovered in 2021 in a forest near the village of Wapiennik (Lipie commune). Preliminary findings indicated that they may have belonged to Józef Kiedos, alias "Kulawy," who was shot by German soldiers in September 1939. Anthropological analysis revealed that the individual was a man over the age of 50, approximately 171-172 cm tall, with visible pathological changes in the right femur, which could correspond to witness accounts of limping. No gunshot wounds were identified, and the present bone damage was postmortem in nature; however, this does not exclude a traumatic cause of death. Based on the collected evidence and historical context, it was concluded that the remains belonged to Józef Kiedos, a civilian murdered in the early days of World War II. The study highlights the role of forensic medicine in clarifying cases of historical significance.

This study evaluates the application of infrared (IR) photography in forensic medicine for detecting latent evidence, including bite marks, bloodstains, bruises, and tattoos. We conducted a literature review and included our own preliminary observations as illustrative examples. The review and case studies explored infrared imaging techniques, camera systems, and filter types. Key parameters such as wavelength and contrast enhancement were analyzed. The results demonstrated that infrared (IR) photography effectively revealed bloodstains beneath soot or paint, bruises on dark skin, and concealed tattoos. It also facilitated the detection of tire impressions and gunshot residues. While infrared (IR) imaging proved useful for identifying bloodstains on textiles, its effectiveness was limited on non-porous surfaces and in the presence of red pigments. Infrared (IR) photography remains a cost-effective tool in forensic investigations, although standardized protocols are still lacking. Future research should investigate advanced imaging techniques, such as high dynamic range (HDR) and near-infrared (NIR) photography, to further enhance forensic applications.

Crimes involving dangerous tools - particularly knives - have long been a significant focus of law enforcement agencies, public opinion, the media, and criminal law doctrine. However, the Polish legal system lacks a unified legislative approach that would effectively regulate both the possession and use of knives in public spaces. Existing legal provisions remain scattered across the Code of Misdemeanors, the Penal Code, and the Act on Weapons and Ammunition, which creates challenges in both the application of the law and the effectiveness of preventive measures. The aim of this study is to provide an interdisciplinary analysis of knife-related crime in Poland, encompassing both criminal law and forensic perspectives. It includes an assessment of the effectiveness of current regulations and highlights the role of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) in reconstructing events. The research draws on legal acts, academic literature, statistical data from the National Police Headquarters, and training and certification practices of experts at both national and international levels. The findings indicate that a reductionist approach prevails in Poland, where blood traces are primarily treated as carriers of biological material for DNA analysis, while their reconstructive potential is largely overlooked.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the expert material of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków between 2000 and 2024, and to analyze the most common causes of death in children under one year of age. Materials and Methods: Autopsy reports from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków from the years 2000 to 2024 were analyzed. Information was collected and examined for 219 children aged 0-12 months, including demographic data - age and sex, external and internal examination findings, and the location where the bodies were discovered. The data were supplemented using available medical records, family interviews, or police notes from the scene. Additional analyses included toxicological, histopathological, and imaging studies, as well as photographic documentation, when available. Results and Conclusions: Fourteen cases were classified as Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), accounting for 6.4% of the 219 autopsies performed. During the study period, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was diagnosed in only seven cases, representing 3.2% of the examined group - two among newborns and five among infants. All seven SIDS cases occurred in children under four months of age. The most common cause of death in children under one year of age was systemic infection, identified in 104 cases. In 51 cases, a diagnosis of pneumonia was made, and in 9 cases - pneumonia accompanied by myocarditis. Of all autopsies performed on children under one year of age, 77 (35.2%) concerned newborns.

The aim of the study was to analyze the causes and circumstances of death among child victims of traffic accidents up to 17 years of age, based on forensic autopsy results conducted between 2002 and 2021 at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Białystok. The analysis was conducted on a group of 123 child traffic accident victims, based on data from 8,241 autopsy reports, representing 1.49% of all forensic autopsies performed during the study period. Cases were examined with regard to the victims' sex, road activity, age, place of death, place of residence, season, day of the week, type of injuries sustained, cause of death, and blood alcohol content. The collected data were statistically processed according to established classification criteria and presented in both descriptive and graphical form. The analysis of 123 autopsy reports revealed that the average age of the victims was 11.7 years, and 65.85% of the deceased were male. The highest mortality rate was observed among passengers, who accounted for 44.72% of all deaths, followed by pedestrians, representing 31.7% of cases. Fatal traffic accidents involving children occurred most frequently in August and September (each accounting for 17% of total deaths), and on Sundays (23% of cases). Sixty-six percent of the victims died at the scene of the accident, with fatal cranio-cerebral injuries identified as the leading cause of death in 85% of cases. A total of 10 deceased children aged 14 to 17 were found to have been under the influence of alcohol. The study results indicate the need for continued educational campaigns targeting children, parents, and drivers - particularly in relation to risky behaviors on the road, such as underage driving or careless movement on foot or by bicycle. Strengthening legal regulations and improving road infrastructure, especially in urban areas where the risk of accidents is higher, may also prove beneficial.

Exhumation refers to the extraction of a body or human remains for the purpose of conducting forensic or medical examinations (e.g., to determine or confirm the cause of death), or for transferring the remains to another grave. Exhumations may also be performed under other circumstances and constitute one of the stages in beatification and canonization proceedings. In such cases, the provisions of the Code of Canon Law apply. Between 1989 and 2000, medical experts from the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology in Katowice participated on three occasions in activities involving exhumation, canonical recognition of mortal remains, and the transfer of remains to new burial sites. This paper presents those cases, outlines the course of medical and judicial procedures, and discusses the legal and ecclesiastical aspects of beatification and canonization processes.