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KMID : 0352519860230020001
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Korea Univercity Medical Journal
1986 Volume.23 No. 2 p.1 ~ p.16
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A Comparative Study on Postmortem Investigation Systems in the World
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文國鎭/Moon, Gook-Jin
姜信夢/Kang, Shin-Mong
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Abstract
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Causes of human death are very important items for the establishment of national public health policies, for the reasonable adjustments of rights of the dead person and related individuals, and for the preservation of public order through administration of justice.
So correct decision of death is considered critical subject in developed and welfare countries.
But postmortem investigation systems, methods of resolving the death of citizen, are different from each other due to the different cultural backgrounds, law systems and political environments. of the nations.
There are two main systems in postmortem investigation: the first one, exclusive responsibility system including coroner and medical examiner systems, and the second, additional responsibility system, divided into administrative autopsy priority system and judicial autopsy prime system.
The system in Korea belongs under the category of the last one.
In this paper the authors reviewed the systems and current status of various countries, including U.S.A., U.K., U.S.S.R., Japan, etc. and compared them with that of Korea to resolve the problems and to induce reformation measures.
The authors concluded that coroner or medical examiner system is better than additional responsibility system. But it is inevitable due to law system, to converge into administrative autopsy priority system, as Japan and West Germany, from current Korean system. At the same time, the disposals of unusual death, having no connection with crime, should be avoided without postmortem investigation.
Also autopsies, including both administrative and judicial, must be performed by the doctors
who have adequate qualification.
The problems could be possibly resolved by careful study of Corpse Anatomical and Preservative Act.
Before resolution of previously mentioned problems, it is desirable to educate doctors, prosecutors, policemen and judges adequately in their preliminary courses and to establish councils which provide advices and suggestions as requested by those, in the cities and provinces.
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