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J Indian Acad Forensic Med. April-June 2011, Vol. 33, No. 2 ISSN
0971-0973
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Organization disaster manual and the report ofU N Nation
Institute for Justice gives elaborateguidelines of the Disaster
Victim Identification,any of which perhaps is the ultimate
forindividual identification. But in India it is better toget the
maximum with the minimum resources inhand. The basis of
identification in India with fairchances of accuracy should be
based onphotography of the individual and DNA profiling.
The difficulties in victim identificationfaced in any incidence
shows the ways ofcorrections. Here also what was felt was that
thephotography of the victims at the site itself, aproper numbering
of the dead bodies, earlytransportation would have given a better
result.The method of identification in such disasters isusually
based as told earlier on Photographyand DNA profiling. For
photography it is better togo for a digital photograph of the
individual at
the site and also at the morgue as they can bestored and
displayed easily. The photographshould be a close one showing the
face and adistant one showing the wearing apparel. Onenumber tag
must be present over the body ineach shot. The reason for
photography at thesite is that most of the bodies get disfigured
dueto decomposition during the time of transportdue to the hot and
humid weather of our country.
The numbering of the body must beprecise unique and stable using
laminatedpapers or plastic wrapped papers or plasticnumber cards
(used for teaching infants) etc tiedto any body parts. Body parts
must benumbered separately.
The process of DNA profiling has itseffectiveness on the methods
of samplecollection. The recommended samples are:
Blood (in EDTA vials) or on swabs (Air dried) For bodies not
decomposed and non fragmented
Blood (if available) and deep red muscle tissue For non
decomposed Fragmented BodiesLong compact bone (cut 4-6 cm, using
window For decomposed body or Body parts
cut) or healthy teeth without fillings
Any of the above or swab inside the urinary Bladder For severely
burnt bodies
These samples are to be matched with thefamily members.
Preferred samples for thefamily members are EDTA blood. The
preferredfamily reference samples are:
) Both parents) One parent, spouse and children) Children and
spouse) One parent and sibling) Siblings (two or more)
) Known identical twinFor direct reference classification
goodsource of DNA is tooth brush, electric andmanual razors and
hair brushes and combs.
Recommendations:AT SITE:1. Digital photography of the victims at
the site
of occurrence, if possible even beforerecovery.
2. To note down the wearing apparels and thenames of the
individuals (from the survivingrelatives) at the site.
3. Numbering of the bodies, preferably bylaminated papers, tied
to the body part(other means may be by covering thenumbered paper
with plastic, or putting itinside the gloves and tying it to the
bodypart). Numbers must have an index with thenames of the
identified individuals alreadyidentified at the site. Number 6 and
9,wherever present must be written in words.
4. Early transportation to the Morgue.AT MORTUARY:5. Fresh
numbering of the bodies during P.M.
(as in most of the cases the bodies are sent
in a haphazard manner), in the samemanner as mentioned earlier;
howeverkeeping the old number as a reference.
6. Body parts must be separately numbered asA, B, C etc or by
any other unique system.
7. Collection of blood (with EDTA) and deepred muscle tissue (in
saturated sol. of NaCl)for DNA profiling, if the body is
notdecomposed and if the body isdecomposed, 6cm of long bone cut in
situ
or healthy teeth without filling and numberedin accordance to
the body number.
8. Preservation of the bodies in the coolingchambers with body
numbers written outsidethe door.
OPERATIONAL:9. Mobilize man power at the Autopsy site
especially the Dissectors (Domes) andpeople who can carry the
bodies.
10. Contact information of relevant authoritydealing with
Emergency Situations.
Conclusion:While it is unpleasant to think about future
mass fatalities it is none the less important forour field to
train ourselves in DVI tasks. A multidisciplinary approach will be
highly encouraging.
References:1. C.H.Brenner,Reuniting El Salvadore Families,
2006.2. B.Brodowle, J.V.Planz, et al. Single nucleotide
polymorphisms
and micro array techniques in forensic genetics, 2004.3.
Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Guide, 2002 2005.4. Pan
American Health Organization, Disaster Manuals and Guideline
Series, 20045. F. Pollner, Forensics meets medical genetics in
mass fatality victim
identification,200
