Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comments to Focardi et al., Age estimation for forensic purposes in Italy: ethical issues

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Röggla G (2000) Austria bans non-clinical estimation of age. Lancet 355/9213:1440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Van Ree CJ, Schulpen TW (2001) Ethical shortcomings of skeletal age determination to establish minority for single young asylum seeker. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 145/5:229ff

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gattiker M (2000) Rechtliche Probleme der Altersbestimmung bei minderjährigen Asylsuchenden. Asyl 15/1:16ff

  4. Laier T (1995) Die Zulässigkeit von Röntgenaufnahmen der Hand zum Zweck der Altersfeststellung bei unbegleiteten minderjährigen Flüchtlingen

  5. Greulich WW, Pyle SI (19592) Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist

  6. Council Directive 97/43/Euratom (30.06.1997) Art 2, Art 3 Abs l  l d

  7. Council Resolution 97/C 221/03 (26.06.1997) Art 4  l 3

  8. Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (05.12.2013) Art 22, Annex V l 5

  9. Council Directive 2013/32/EU (26.06.2013) Ch II Art 25  l 5

  10. Schmeling A, Garamendi PM, Prieto JL, Landa MI (2011) Forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minors and young living adults in: Vieira DN (ed), Forensic medicine – from old problems to new challenges, 77ff

  11. Schulz R, Schiborr M, Pfeiffer H et al (2013) Sonographic assessment of the ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis in 616 individuals. For Sci Med Pathol 9/3:351ff

  12. Separated Children in Europe Programme (2000) Training guide

  13. UNHCR (1997) Guidelines on policies & procedures in dealing with unaccompanied children seeking asylum, 5.11

  14. Eurostat statistics on unaccompanied minors 2012 and 2013 (2014)

  15. Schmidt S, Knüfermann R, Tsokos M, Schmeling A (2009) Forensische Altersdiagnostik bei Lebenden am Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin: Analyse der im Zeitraum 2001–2007 erstatteten Gutachten. Arch Kriminol 224:168ff

    Google Scholar 

  16. Schmeling A, Olze A, Reisinger W et al (2003) Statistical analysis and verification of forensic age estimation of living persons in the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Berlin University Hospital Charité. Leg Med 5:367ff

  17. Separated Children in Europe Programme (2012) Position paper on age assessment in the context of separated children in Europe

  18. Hjern A, Brendler-Lindqvist M, Norredam M (2012) Age assessment of young asylum seekers. Acta Paediatr 101/1:4ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Smith T, Brownlees L (2011) Age assessment practices: a literature review & annotated bibliography

  20. Roscam Abbing HDC (2011) Age determination of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in the European Union: a health law perspective. Eur J Health Law 18:11ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Aynsley-Green A (2011) The assessment of age in undocumented migrants

  22. Pruvost MO, Boraud C, Chariot P (2010) Skeletal age determination in adolescents involved in judicial procedures: from evidence-based principles to medical practice. J Med Ethics 36:71ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (1999) The health of refugee children—guidelines for paediatricians

  24. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (24.02.2009) College statement on the role of paediatricians in the age assessment of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum

  25. Dyer C (2009) Doctors no better at assessing young person’s age than experienced social workers, High Court rules. BMJ 338:b2056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Coram Children’s Legal Centre (2000) Practice guidelines for age assessment of young unaccompanied asylum seekers

  27. Dibnah M (2008) Asylum seekers and age determination

  28. Dyer C (2011) Judge criticises paediatrician for claiming to know how to assess age of asylum seekers. BMJ 342:d3816

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Parzeller M (2011) Rechtliche Aspekte der forensischen Altersdiagnostik. Rechtsmedizin 21/2:12ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Schmeling A, Grundmann C, Fuhrmann A et al (2008) Criteria for age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 122/6:457ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Schmeling A, Schmidt S, Schulz R et al (2010) Practical imaging techniques for age evaluation. In: Black S, Aggrawal A, Payne-James J (ed) Age estimation in the living. The practioners guide. Wiley-Blackwell, 130ff

  32. Schmeling A, Olze A, Reisinger W, Geserick G (2001) Age estimation of living people undergoing criminal proceedings. The Lancet 358:89f

  33. Wittschieber D, Schulz R, Vieth V et al (2014) The value of sub-stages and thin slices for the assessment of the medial clavicular epiphysis: a prospective multi-center CT study. For Sci Med Pathol 10/2:163ff

  34. Kellinghaus M, Schulz R, Vieth V et al (2010) Forensic age estimation in living subjects based on the ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphysis as revealed by thin-slice multidetector computed tomography. Int J Legal Med 124/2:149ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Tisè M, Mazzarini L, Fabrizzi G et al (2011) Applicability of Greulich and Pyle method for age assessment in forensic practice on an Italian sample. Int J Legal Med 125:41ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Knell B, Ruhstaller P, Prieels F, Schmeling A (2009) Dental age diagnostics by means of radiographical evaluation of the growth stages of lower wisdom teeth. Int J Legal Med 123:465ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Baumann U, Schulz R, Reisinger W et al (2009) Reference study on the time frame for ossification of the distal radius and ulnar epiphyses on the hand radiograph. For Sci Int 191:15ff

  38. Olze A, Schmeling A, Taniguchi M et al (2004) Forensic age estimation in living subjects: the ethnic factor in wisdom tooth mineralization. Int J Legal Med 118:170ff

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wiesenstr 20, 4800, Attnang-Puchheim, Austria

    Ernst Rudolf

Authors
  1. Ernst Rudolf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ernst Rudolf.

Additional information

Note

The author delivers forensic medical expert reports in Austrian asylum cases.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rudolf, E. Comments to Focardi et al., Age estimation for forensic purposes in Italy: ethical issues. Int J Legal Med 129, 1271–1273 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1043-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1043-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation