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Journal of Pathology and Disease Biology | Volume 2
September 06-07, 2018 | Edinburgh, Scotland
Pathology and Surgical Pathology
International Conference on
The natural death in detention: A case series and review of the literature
Shirley Jena Stuart
University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
Introduction:
Death in detention has been reported to have
increased significantly in South Africa in recent years and
remains a contentious issue, attracting attention frommedia
and human rights organisations alike. Various contributory
factors and pertinent issues have been reported, including
overcrowding, suboptimal access of inmates to healthcare,
decreased releases on parole for health-related issues, and
an increase in the rate of HIV infection amongst inmates.
Methods:
This is a retrospective review spanning a period of
less than twelve months, from October 2015 to September
2016, during which three deaths in detention were seen at
Roodepoort Forensic Pathology ServicesMortuary. The scene
of death was attended to by the pathologist in only two out
of the three cases. Blood samples for alcohol concentration
analysis, tissue samples for histology and body fluid samples
for toxicology were taken at autopsy in all the cases.
Results:
Each of the three cases have been assessed as being
due to natural causes, ranging from meningoencephalitis
to ischaemic heart disease to pneumonia, respectively.
Although blood alcohol concentration and toxicology results
are forthcoming, the macroscopic and histological findings
are of prior significance.
Conclusion:
A range of issues have surfaced from the analysis
of each of the three cases, including lack of communication
regarding protocols for scene investigation, delayed access
to medical records of the deceased, allegations of negligence
against correctional services staff, and overcrowding.
Further investigation and ongoing studies in this regard are
warranted.
Speaker Biography
Shirley Jena Stuart is currently working as a specialist in department of Forensic
Pathology and Medicine at Witwatersrand Medical School and a specialist Forensic
Pathologist at Gauteng Health Department. She also served as a medical officer in
Anatomical Pathology at Lancet Laboratories. Also she worked as a Doctor, Community
Service Medical Officer at Zithulele Hospital and Mthatha General Hospital.
e:
shirley@istari.co.za