TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of forensic anthropology in disaster victim identification (DVI)
T2 - recent developments and future prospects
AU - de Boer, Hans H.
AU - Blau, Soren
AU - Delabarde, Tania
AU - Hackman, Lucina
PY - 2018/10/2
Y1 - 2018/10/2
N2 - Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification (DVI) for over a century, but over the past decades there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for the forensic anthropologist. The experiences gained from some of the latest DVI operations have provided valuable lessons that have had an effect on the role and perceived value of the forensic anthropologist as part of the team managing the DVI process. This paper provides an overview of the ways in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to DVI with emphasis on how recent experiences and developments in forensic anthropology have augmented these contributions. Consequently, this paper reviews the value of forensic anthropological expertise at the disaster scene and in the mortuary, and discusses the way in which forensic anthropologists may use imaging in DVI efforts. Tissue-sampling strategies for DNA analysis, especially in the case of disasters with a large amount of fragmented remains are also discussed. Additionally, consideration is given to the identification of survivors; the statistical basis of identification; the challenges related to some specific disaster scenarios; and education and training. Although forensic anthropologists can play a valuable role in different phases of a DVI operation, they never practice in isolation. The DVI process requires a multidisciplinary approach and therefore, close collaboration with a range of forensic specialists.
AB - Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification (DVI) for over a century, but over the past decades there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for the forensic anthropologist. The experiences gained from some of the latest DVI operations have provided valuable lessons that have had an effect on the role and perceived value of the forensic anthropologist as part of the team managing the DVI process. This paper provides an overview of the ways in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to DVI with emphasis on how recent experiences and developments in forensic anthropology have augmented these contributions. Consequently, this paper reviews the value of forensic anthropological expertise at the disaster scene and in the mortuary, and discusses the way in which forensic anthropologists may use imaging in DVI efforts. Tissue-sampling strategies for DNA analysis, especially in the case of disasters with a large amount of fragmented remains are also discussed. Additionally, consideration is given to the identification of survivors; the statistical basis of identification; the challenges related to some specific disaster scenarios; and education and training. Although forensic anthropologists can play a valuable role in different phases of a DVI operation, they never practice in isolation. The DVI process requires a multidisciplinary approach and therefore, close collaboration with a range of forensic specialists.
KW - Forensic science
KW - forensic anthropology
KW - disaster victim
KW - human identification
KW - mass fatality
KW - Bayes
KW - radiology
KW - dead body management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076901962&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/20961790.2018.1480460
DO - 10.1080/20961790.2018.1480460
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85076901962
VL - 4
SP - 303
EP - 315
JO - Forensic Sciences Research
JF - Forensic Sciences Research
SN - 2096-1790
IS - 4
ER -