Forensic Investigation and Management of Mass Disasters

The book covers mass disasters of all types, including acts of terrorism and natural disasters. The twenty-two chapters cover diverse topics from forensic investigation into the cause of the disaster, to identifying and handling the deceased, to legal considerations. You ll will find information on the role of law enforcement in disaster investigation; ways of identifying victims, including DNA analysis and forensic dentistry; the roles of forensic engineers, toxicologists and anthropologists; disaster medicine; and mass disaster litigation. This book also informs you psychopathic behavior and the media in terrorist acts and the psychology at work in terrorist activity. Also included are examples of mass disaster management plans including the National Association of Medical Examiners Mass Fatality Plan.

Topics Include:

Scene investigation
The role of law enforcement
DNA and TrueAllele ® Technology in identifying victims
Dental identification of victims
The role of the forensic pathologist
The role of the corner/medical examiner
The role of funeral directors and mortuary staff
Forensic engineering and mass disasters
Forensic anthropologists and mass disasters
Forensic toxicology and mass disasters
Forensic entomology and mass disasters
Core competencies in disaster medicine
Mass disaster litigation
Disaster management teams
Disaster management plans
Biological and chemical terrorism
Terrorist activity and the psychology behind it

Dr. Matthias I. Okoye, M.D., J.D. is a practicing physician and lawyer, and the Director of the Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences, Inc., and Nebraska Forensic Medical Services, P.C. He is Clinical Associate Professor of forensic pathology at Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska. He is also an adjunct professor of forensic medicine and pathology at several universities abroad. He was formerly the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. He is a consultant forensic pathologist with the State of Nebraska s Office of the Attorney General, and serves as a coroner s physician and forensic pathologist for several Nebraska counties. Dr. Okoye is a member of the bars of Pennsylvania, U.S. Supreme Court, and several federal courts. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Board of Legal Medicine. He is a member of the National Association of Medical Examiners and a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists. He has lectured and published extensively in the fields of forensic sciences, legal medicine, forensic medicine and pathology.

Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D. is the former Coroner of Allegheny County, and one of the world s leading experts in forensic pathology. He has been consulted in numerous high profile cases. As a medical-legal expert, Dr. Wecht has performed approximately 16,000 autopsies and has supervised, reviewed or been consulted on approximately 36,000 additional postmortem examinations. Dr. Wecht is the Past President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American College of Legal Medicine. He is the author of more than 475 professional publications, along with the popular non-fiction books Cause of Death, Grave Secrets, Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?, Mortal Evidence and Tales from the Morgue.