Evaluation of Forensic Medical Cases During COVID-19 Pandemic

Year 2022, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 205 - 208, 30.03.2022

Gülşah Çıkrıkçı Işık , Resul Çinpolat Ersin Kırış Yunsur Çevik

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.933782

Abstract

Objective: Investigating the effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic on forensic medical cases admitted to emergency department (ED).
Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted between March and August 2019 (prepandemic period), and March and August 2020 (pandemic period). All the patients admitted to the ED that required a forensic medical examination were investigated.
Results: A total of 4527 forensic cases were investigated (prepandemic period: 2937, pandemic period: 1590). There was a male predominance among the patients (prepandemic period: 62.1%, pandemic period: 67.7%). During both periods, the most common forensic complaints were the same, and assaults, motor vehicle accidents, and penetrating injuries were in the top three, respectively. During pandemic number of motor vehicle accidents decreased significantly (p < 0.001); on the other hand number of suicide attempts did not change (p= 0.83).
Conclusion: When compared to the prepandemic period, the number of forensic cases decreased by half during the pandemic period. Number of motor vehicle accidents significantly decreased during the pandemic, which might have been a consequence of the stay-at-home orders.
There was no increase in the in the number of suicide attempts; however, the psychological effects of the pandemic can be long-lasting and might lead to increases in rate of suicide attempts in the long-run.

Keywords

Forensic, Pandemic, COVID-19, Motor vehicle collision, Suicide

References

• [1] Nicola M, Alsafi Z, Sohrabi C, Kerwan A, Al-Jabir A, Iosifidis C, Agha M, Agha R. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): A review. Int J Surg. 2020;78:185-193.
• [2] Sher L. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates. QJM. 2020;113(10):707-712.
• [3] Kamine TH, Rembisz A, Barron RJ, Baldwin C, Kromer M. Decrease in Trauma Admissions with COVID-19 Pandemic. West J Emerg Med. 2020;21(4):819-822.
• [4] Boman JH 4th, Gallupe O. Has COVID-19 Changed Crime? Crime Rates in the United States during the Pandemic. Am J Crim Justice. 2020; 45(4): 537–545.
• [5] Balmori de la Miyar JR, Hoehn-Velasco L, Silverio-Murillo A. Druglords don’t stay at home: COVID-19 pandemic and crime patterns in Mexico City. J Crim Justice. 2021; 72: 101745.
• [6] Çıkrıkçı Işık G, Çevik Y. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on visits of an urban emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2021;42:78-82.
• [7] Şan İ, Usul E, Bekgöz B, Korkut S. Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency medical services. Int J Clin Pract. 2020
• [8] Aslaner MA. Revisits of forensic cases to the emergency department. J Forensic Leg Med. 2019;65:81-85.
• [9] Yüzbaşıoğlu Y, Çıkrıkçı Işık G. Retrospective analysis of forensic cases in refugees admitted to emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2019;37(9):1691-1693.
• [10] Boman JH 4th, Gallupe O. Has COVID-19 Changed Crime? Crime Rates in the United States during the Pandemic. Am J Crim Justice 2020; 45(4): 537–545.
• [11] Kamine TH, Rembisz A, Barron RJ, Baldwin C, Kromer M. Decrease in trauma admissions with COVID-19 pandemic. West J Emerg Med. 2020;21(4):819-822.
• [12] Sutherland M, McKenney M, Elkbuli A. Vehicle related injury patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic: What has changed? Am J Emerg Med. 2020;38(9):1710-1714.
• [13] Salari N, Hosseinian-Far A, Jalali R, Vaisi-Raygani A, Rasoulpoor S, Mohammadi M, Rasoulpoor S, Khaledi-Paveh B. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Global Health 2020;16(1):57-67.
• [14] Özdin S, Bayrak Özdin Ş. Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2020;66(5):504-511.
• [15] Zalsman G, Stanley B, Szanto K, Clarke DE, Carli V, Mehlum L. Suicide in the Time of COVID-19: Review and recommendations. Arch Suicide Res. 2020;24(4):477-482.