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Chapter 3 - Medicolegal Investigation of Elder Maltreatment and Deaths

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2020

By
Julie Howe
Edited by
Kim A. Collins  and
Roger W. Byard
Kim A. Collins
Affiliation:
LifePoint Inc, South Carolina
Roger W. Byard
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide
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Summary

While the majority of deaths in the elderly population are due to natural diseases such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and cancer, it does not diminish the need to rule out other causes of death. Accidents and subsequent death are not uncommon among the elderly. Suicides may occur due to chronic pain or increased comorbidities as well as the loss of a loved one. Elders are also vulnerable to homicides that can be masked as natural deaths, as the index of suspicion decreases with someone who is reasonably expected to die with advanced age and experiencing multiple medical conditions, or accidents.

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Chapter
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Geriatric Forensic Medicine and Pathology , pp. 30 - 50
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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References

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Lindbloom, E, Brandt, J, Hawes, C, et al. The role of forensic science in identification of mistreatment deaths in long-term care facilities. DOJ Grant # 2002-IJ-DX-KO18. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/209334.pdfGoogle Scholar
The National Center on Elder Abuse (2014) Why should I care about elder abuse? http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Resources/Publication/docs/NCEA_WhyCare_508.pdfGoogle Scholar

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