The medicolegal aspects of rapid deaths initiated by hypoxia and anoxia.

In all forms of death the postmortem findings may be divided into two groups. The first group comprises those of general pathologic changes, such as visceral congestion and petechial hemorrhages. These nonspecific changes are always present in a greater or lesser degree in rapid deaths initiated by hypoxia and anoxia as well as in deaths from shock and natural causes. The second group consists of the pathologic changes which are dependent upon the type of death, eg, the local injuries to the neck in throttling and strangulation, and the color of the blood in acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Such changes are best described as special pathologic changes. In the description of postmortem findings for medicolegal purposes, a clear distinction should be drawn between nonspecific general pathologic changes and special pathologic changes which are dependent upon the type of death. All postmortem findings should be considered under the two headings: (1) special pathologic changes; and (2) nonspecific general pathologic changes.