Dr. Weedn is a Professor in the GWU Department of Forensic Sciences. He is a physician, lawyer, and board certified forensic pathologist. He established the military’s DNA identification program and was involved in pioneering STR and mitochondrial DNA methods and was involved in the identification of Czar Nicholas II. He created the current NAME inspection and accreditation program. Subsequently, he has had held several positions, including as a medical examiner, a crime laboratory director, research scientist, and professor. He is a past President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and served as the Senior Forensic Advisor to the Deputy Attorney General during the Obama Administration.
The common practice of retaining organs and tissues after the autopsy dissection is a potential l... more The common practice of retaining organs and tissues after the autopsy dissection is a potential legal liability for forensic pathologists and the offices they work for. In 1988, a coroner and the coroner’s office were successfully sued for corneal procurements without the consent of the next of kin. That led to later lawsuits of forensic pathologists and medical examiner offices over the retention of brains for formalin fixation and neuropathologic examination without consent, although the autopsies were not consent based. National Association of Medical Examiners became involved in this ligation and filed numerous amicus briefs. These later lawsuits were not successful. After caselaw on the subject, such lawsuits have largely abated. Nonetheless, the threat of such lawsuits remains, and statutory language can be promulgated to mitigate the risk.
Background:Legal systems for medicolegal death investigation in the United States are varied. A 1... more Background:Legal systems for medicolegal death investigation in the United States are varied. A 1954 model medical examiner law was initially embraced by a few states but did not gain widespread support and was woefully inadequate. The 2009 National Commission on Forensic Science recommended the creation of an updated model medical examiner legislation.Methods:Various considerations for policymakers are explored.Results:A model law is proposed.
When a military jet aircraft becomes incapable of controlled powered flight, the aircrew has the ... more When a military jet aircraft becomes incapable of controlled powered flight, the aircrew has the alternative of initiating the ejection sequence. In a majority of cases the ejection sequence is successful in extracting the aircrew from probable death. However, in a minority of cases the ejected aircrewmember does not survive. We analyzed 57 autopsy cases from 1966 to 1990 of military aircraft fatalities in which ejection was initiated. These cases were analyzed for injury patterns, age, rank, military branch, type of aircraft, and circumstances surrounding the ejection. The majority of fatalities occurred during “out-of-envelope” ejections and were associated with extreme whole-body trauma. Drowning fatalities were associated with relatively minor traumatic injury. Parachute malfunctions resulted in extreme total-body decelerative injuries. The remainder of the fatalities were due to man-seat separation failure, human error, and unfortunate circumstances. Two cases of hangman's type cervical neck fracture were observed during high-speed ejection.
The authors opine that forensic pathology practice will be impacted by large legal forces proceed... more The authors opine that forensic pathology practice will be impacted by large legal forces proceeding into the future: 1) increased judicial scrutiny and 2) the development of a regulatory environment. Forensic science has been increasingly challenged outside of forensic pathology and there is reason to believe that it will spill over into forensic pathology. Recent Supreme Court rulings appear to provide defendants with greater opportunity to challenge forensic pathologists in court. Calls for mandatory accreditation and certification are increasing and legislation will likely be promulgated to enforce it. Standard protocols may well become mandatory and a basis for defense challenges. As forensic pathologists are being recognized as increasingly important to the criminal justice system, their responsibility and accountability are correspondingly increasing.
... 1994). Recently, a simple silica-binding method has been successfully used for ancient DNA sa... more ... 1994). Recently, a simple silica-binding method has been successfully used for ancient DNA samples (Hoss and Paabo 1993); this, and more detailed consideration concerning DNA extraction from aged bone will be covered later in the section on ancient DNA. ...
We report our second case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) (Carrington's pneumonia... more We report our second case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) (Carrington's pneumonia) with elevated serum IgE values and present a review of the literature on this subject. Our present patient, a 55-year-old woman, had classic symptoms of dry cough, weight loss, malaise, dyspnea, night sweats, and fevers. Significant peripheral blood eosinophilia and a right upper lobe infiltrate were present. Glucocorticoid therapy caused prompt resolution of symptoms, as well as disappearance of blood eosinophilia, elevated serum IgE levels, and pulmonary shadowing. The diagnosis of CEP should not be neglected in the classification of the eosinophilic pneumonias with increased serum IgE levels. The increased serum IgE levels, when present in CEP, seem nonspecific and thus may not be useful as a diagnostic adjunct. However, measurement of IgE may be helpful in CEP, as it has been in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, to guide the dosage and duration of corticosteroid therapy.
Often, medical staff and sometimes their attorneys mistakenly believe that HIPAA prevents disclos... more Often, medical staff and sometimes their attorneys mistakenly believe that HIPAA prevents disclosure of medical records to medical examiner and coroner offices. Medical examiner and coroner government offices are not covered entities. Moreover, HIPAA specifically allows disclosure to law enforcement, public health, and medical examiner and coroners. However, state and Joint Commission requirements may further impact disclosures.
Background: The Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause gives defendants a right to confront their a... more Background: The Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause gives defendants a right to confront their accusers. Method: U.S. Supreme Court cases that interpreted this right as applied to forensic scientists were reviewed. Results: Melendez-Diaz, Bullcoming, and Williams examined constitutional rights to confront forensic scientists. Lower courts have specifically examined their application to forensic pathology. Whether autopsy reports are considered “testimonial” varies among jurisdictions and has not been definitively settled. Defendants are generally able to compel testimony of forensic pathologists. Where the forensic pathologist is truly unavailable, the surrogate expert should be in a position to render an independent opinion.
The purpose of this study is to assess the current nature and extent of forensic science training... more The purpose of this study is to assess the current nature and extent of forensic science training in the nation's 43 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited forensic pathology fellowship programs. This manuscript describes the results of a survey of training program directors performed as a project for the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Forensic Identity Committee. The results show a considerable diversity in the forensic sciences training in forensic pathology programs, ranging from one to ten weeks, with an average of 4.1 weeks. However, almost one half of programs provide no training in at least one of the surveyed disciplines. Only 58.1% of responding programs meet the ACGME requirements for forensic science training, and a similar percentage (56.0%) currently provides the duration of forensic science training recommended by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). The deficit in the NAME training recommendations, surprisingly, was strictly in the field of toxicology.
The common practice of retaining organs and tissues after the autopsy dissection is a potential l... more The common practice of retaining organs and tissues after the autopsy dissection is a potential legal liability for forensic pathologists and the offices they work for. In 1988, a coroner and the coroner’s office were successfully sued for corneal procurements without the consent of the next of kin. That led to later lawsuits of forensic pathologists and medical examiner offices over the retention of brains for formalin fixation and neuropathologic examination without consent, although the autopsies were not consent based. National Association of Medical Examiners became involved in this ligation and filed numerous amicus briefs. These later lawsuits were not successful. After caselaw on the subject, such lawsuits have largely abated. Nonetheless, the threat of such lawsuits remains, and statutory language can be promulgated to mitigate the risk.
Background:Legal systems for medicolegal death investigation in the United States are varied. A 1... more Background:Legal systems for medicolegal death investigation in the United States are varied. A 1954 model medical examiner law was initially embraced by a few states but did not gain widespread support and was woefully inadequate. The 2009 National Commission on Forensic Science recommended the creation of an updated model medical examiner legislation.Methods:Various considerations for policymakers are explored.Results:A model law is proposed.
When a military jet aircraft becomes incapable of controlled powered flight, the aircrew has the ... more When a military jet aircraft becomes incapable of controlled powered flight, the aircrew has the alternative of initiating the ejection sequence. In a majority of cases the ejection sequence is successful in extracting the aircrew from probable death. However, in a minority of cases the ejected aircrewmember does not survive. We analyzed 57 autopsy cases from 1966 to 1990 of military aircraft fatalities in which ejection was initiated. These cases were analyzed for injury patterns, age, rank, military branch, type of aircraft, and circumstances surrounding the ejection. The majority of fatalities occurred during “out-of-envelope” ejections and were associated with extreme whole-body trauma. Drowning fatalities were associated with relatively minor traumatic injury. Parachute malfunctions resulted in extreme total-body decelerative injuries. The remainder of the fatalities were due to man-seat separation failure, human error, and unfortunate circumstances. Two cases of hangman's type cervical neck fracture were observed during high-speed ejection.
The authors opine that forensic pathology practice will be impacted by large legal forces proceed... more The authors opine that forensic pathology practice will be impacted by large legal forces proceeding into the future: 1) increased judicial scrutiny and 2) the development of a regulatory environment. Forensic science has been increasingly challenged outside of forensic pathology and there is reason to believe that it will spill over into forensic pathology. Recent Supreme Court rulings appear to provide defendants with greater opportunity to challenge forensic pathologists in court. Calls for mandatory accreditation and certification are increasing and legislation will likely be promulgated to enforce it. Standard protocols may well become mandatory and a basis for defense challenges. As forensic pathologists are being recognized as increasingly important to the criminal justice system, their responsibility and accountability are correspondingly increasing.
... 1994). Recently, a simple silica-binding method has been successfully used for ancient DNA sa... more ... 1994). Recently, a simple silica-binding method has been successfully used for ancient DNA samples (Hoss and Paabo 1993); this, and more detailed consideration concerning DNA extraction from aged bone will be covered later in the section on ancient DNA. ...
We report our second case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) (Carrington's pneumonia... more We report our second case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) (Carrington's pneumonia) with elevated serum IgE values and present a review of the literature on this subject. Our present patient, a 55-year-old woman, had classic symptoms of dry cough, weight loss, malaise, dyspnea, night sweats, and fevers. Significant peripheral blood eosinophilia and a right upper lobe infiltrate were present. Glucocorticoid therapy caused prompt resolution of symptoms, as well as disappearance of blood eosinophilia, elevated serum IgE levels, and pulmonary shadowing. The diagnosis of CEP should not be neglected in the classification of the eosinophilic pneumonias with increased serum IgE levels. The increased serum IgE levels, when present in CEP, seem nonspecific and thus may not be useful as a diagnostic adjunct. However, measurement of IgE may be helpful in CEP, as it has been in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, to guide the dosage and duration of corticosteroid therapy.
Often, medical staff and sometimes their attorneys mistakenly believe that HIPAA prevents disclos... more Often, medical staff and sometimes their attorneys mistakenly believe that HIPAA prevents disclosure of medical records to medical examiner and coroner offices. Medical examiner and coroner government offices are not covered entities. Moreover, HIPAA specifically allows disclosure to law enforcement, public health, and medical examiner and coroners. However, state and Joint Commission requirements may further impact disclosures.
Background: The Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause gives defendants a right to confront their a... more Background: The Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause gives defendants a right to confront their accusers. Method: U.S. Supreme Court cases that interpreted this right as applied to forensic scientists were reviewed. Results: Melendez-Diaz, Bullcoming, and Williams examined constitutional rights to confront forensic scientists. Lower courts have specifically examined their application to forensic pathology. Whether autopsy reports are considered “testimonial” varies among jurisdictions and has not been definitively settled. Defendants are generally able to compel testimony of forensic pathologists. Where the forensic pathologist is truly unavailable, the surrogate expert should be in a position to render an independent opinion.
The purpose of this study is to assess the current nature and extent of forensic science training... more The purpose of this study is to assess the current nature and extent of forensic science training in the nation's 43 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited forensic pathology fellowship programs. This manuscript describes the results of a survey of training program directors performed as a project for the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Forensic Identity Committee. The results show a considerable diversity in the forensic sciences training in forensic pathology programs, ranging from one to ten weeks, with an average of 4.1 weeks. However, almost one half of programs provide no training in at least one of the surveyed disciplines. Only 58.1% of responding programs meet the ACGME requirements for forensic science training, and a similar percentage (56.0%) currently provides the duration of forensic science training recommended by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). The deficit in the NAME training recommendations, surprisingly, was strictly in the field of toxicology.
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