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DVI missions in the Carribean—the practical aspects of disaster victim identification

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Abstract

Human trafficking of young men from Africa to Europe is a crime with often devastating consequences. The African continent loses members of the younger generation and many die during the attempt to reach their destinations. The identification of these victims is often difficult, however the structured and by now well-established procedures utilizing standard disaster victim identification protocols provide a reliable and functional approach. The logistics involved are straightforward, and one of the many functions of the team leader is to monitor and control the flow of cases through the system. The importance of ante mortem data for the purposes of identification is clear—no ante mortem data means no identification. Two different missions conducted in the Caribbean are described to illustrate particular difficulties that may occur.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, Ground Floor Medical School North Building, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Calle Winskog

  2. Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia

    Calle Winskog

Authors
  1. Calle Winskog
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Correspondence to Calle Winskog.

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Winskog, C. DVI missions in the Carribean—the practical aspects of disaster victim identification. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 8, 109–113 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9273-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9273-2

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