Forensic Pathology Case Study: The 2-Year-Old Child - Assignment Example

Forensic Pathology Case Study: "The 2-Year-Old Child" Forensic Pathology Case Study: "The 2-Year-Old Child" Read the following case study and then answer the two questions:A 2 year old child is taken to the house of a babysitter at 7:00 AM, by the boyfriend of the mother. The child was noted to be somewhat sleepy but in no acute distress. During the day the child was listless and much less active than normal for her. At 4:30 PM, the 14 year old daughter of the babysitter arrives home, and goes to a backroom to check on the child--finding her unresponsive.

This is her first contact of the day with the baby. 911 is called and child is transported to hospital, and pronounced DOA. Autopsy examination reveals a hemoperitoneum and laceration of the anterior portion of the right lobe of the liver. The lungs are heavy, edematous and congested. Microscopic examination of the liver reveals a well-established inflammatory reaction and hemorrhage. The 14 year old is convicted of felony-homicide and sent to prison. 1) Do the facts suggest the jury was correct?

Answer: The facts do not suggest that the decision of the jury were correct.2) What factors are for and against the verdict?Answer: The factors against the verdict are the fact that the child was already sleepy at the time when she was brought to the babysitter’s house. Furthermore, she was also lethargic the entire day confirming the fact that she had already been subjected to child abuse prior to her arrival. This lethargy of the baby may be attributed to the hemorrhage resulting from the laceration of the liver due to abdominal injury resulting in hypovolemia and the associated symptoms.

These include drowsiness and weakness (Nolan and Pullinger 2014). The congestion and edema in the lungs may be attributable to the head trauma which may have resulted due to abuse prior to the baby being dropped at the baby sitter’s house. This may also be the reason for the lethargy of the child for the entire day and final death (Rubin et al 2001). The factors for the verdict are the fact that the girl was present when the child was found dead. The picture of the child being found in the bathroom along with the congested and edematous lungs are suggestive of post immersion syndrome where the child may have been forcefully dipped into water until she died (Griest and Zumwalt 1989, 42- 43).

The congested lungs and the liver laceration would then be due to abuse by the girl.ReferencesGriest, K. J., & Zumwalt, R. E. (1989). Child abuse by drowning. Pediatrics,83, 1, 41-6.Nolan, J. P., & Pullinger, R. (2014). Hypovolaemic shock. BMJ (clinical Research Ed.), 348.Rubin, D. M., McMillan, C. O., Helfaer, M. A., & Christian, C. W. (2001). Pulmonary edema associated with child abuse: case reports and review of the literature. Pediatrics, 108, 3, 769-75.