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Pitfalls in the Interpretation of Traumatic Socioethnic Practices
Author(s) -
Tanner Brendan S.,
Catanese Charles,
Lew Emma O.,
Rapkiewicz Amy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12955
Subject(s) - dermabrasion , medicine , coining (mint) , bloodletting , manner of death , blunt , ceremony , surgery , forensic engineering , poison control , medical emergency , injury prevention , pathology , engineering , history , alternative medicine , archaeology
The purpose of this case study was to raise awareness among forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators regarding two unique socioethnic practices and regional customs that have significant forensic implications. We present two cases involving coining ( gua sha ) and bloodletting ( sapi ) that represent two forms of traditional customs that involve the use of blunt force and sharp force trauma, respectively. In coining, the skin lesions are produced as a result of dermabrasion with oils and oval objects such as coin. In sapi, multiple superficial linear scrapes are made in the skin as part of a bloodletting ceremony. The identification of these lesions will prevent the interpretation of them as non‐voluntary‐inflicted trauma.