Science and Justice 51 (2011) 222

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Book reviews

TheHospital Autopsy, AManual of FundamentalAutopsyPractice, 3rdEdition, Eds: Julian L. Burton and Guy Rutty, ISBN: 978-0-340-96514-6

This is now a clearly established textbook offering the combinedexperience of some of the UK experts in the field. One might imaginethat this would be a text for a select group of medical practitioners.Whilst clearly it satisfies this remit, it also offers a one-stop-shop foranyonewith a professional interest in general or indeed specific aspectsof the autopsy. Scientists, police personnel, medical staff— from nurse'sdoctors through to laboratory staff or the legal profession, all will findthis a useful reference text for best practice as well as generalconsiderations around the autopsy procedure and processes.

The complexities of RCP guidelines, The Human Tissue Act,Coronial rule changes and various other national policies anddocumentation are all contextualised in this book making suchdocumentation more digestible for the reader.

This book describes the history of the autopsy and takes the readerthough to the possibilities that lie ahead in the future of the autopsy,for example considering the role in advancingmedical knowledge andthe molecular autopsy. For those in medical and paramedicaleducation the role in education is considered and allows for sensibledebate about allowing access to appropriate groups and individuals.The book builds by discussing legal and religious considerationsassociated with autopsies and leads naturally into the health andsafety aspects, before considering the elements of the process fromexternal examination of the body through to the subsequent fullautopsy procedure itself. Toxicological and microbiological aspects aswell as radiological and reconstructive considerations give this bookthe completeness one needs from a text that offers everything neededin this one text. The final chapter, describing the reporting anddocumentation of autopsies is a useful summary and will help thoseearly in their careers or indeed the non-medical readers understandthe variety of documentation that should be expected to result froman autopsy to take their enquires forward.

If one had to be critical of this latest offering, it would not be on thecontent but on a few of the images presented e.g. the stab wound image,but this is a ‘publisher’ issue anddoes not particularly liewith the authors.

Overall, a stunning addition to the bookshelf for all professionalinvolved directly or otherwise with the hospital autopsy.

John P. CassellaDepartment of Forensic Science and Crime Science, Faculty of Science,Staffordshire University, Mellor Building, College Road, Stoke on Trent,

ST4 2DE, United KingdomE-mail address: J.P.Cassella@Staffs.ac.uk.

Ruffell Alistair, McKinley Jennifer, Geoforensics, Wiley-Blackwell,2008, pp. 340, ISBN: 978-0-470-05735-3

The main definition of geoforensics is given as ‘the application ofselected geoscience techniques to criminal investigations of whathappened, where and when it occurred and how and why it tookplace’. Currently there is an increased interest in the application ofgeosciences to criminal investigations by criminals and investiga-tors alike. Geoforensics consists of ten chapters, each of which canbe read independently, ranging from different instrumentation andtechniques utilised in this field to a range of sampling methods andstatistics. Throughout this book, a high number of case examplesare given, some published and others from the authors' own casework, which highlight the importance of geoforensics to criminalinvestigations and how different techniques can be employed atcrime scenes. The occasional incorrect terminology used by theauthors should also be noted (e.g. footprints instead of footwearmarks).

Geoforensics has been practised at least since the 19th centuryand this is supported by numerous examples and references inChapter one. Although the authors and most of the examples givenare from the UK, this chapter highlights the importance of the chainof custody and that different countries will have varying legal andsocial requirements. Chapter three and four discusses in detailgeophysics and techniques associated with geosciences such asground-penetrating radar and remote sensing as well as newlydeveloped techniques such as the portable X-ray fluorescencespectrometer. The use of Geographic Information System (orScience) GIS is explained in Chapter five where the authors explainits pros and cons through numerous case examples. Other chaptersmention the importance of statistics and trace evidence in the fieldof geoforensics. Chapter eight discusses trace evidence and theassociated instrumental techniques in detail. The use of geoforensicsin the search of buried materials, such as bodies, artefacts and illegaldumping, is highlighted in Chapter nine for underwater andunderground searches.

The final chapter summarises and connects all the chapters in afew pages. Overall, this book is an excellent source for students andpractitioners working in the field of geoforensics and earth traceevidence such as soil.

Kevin FarrugiaUniversity of Strathclyde, United KingdomE-mail address: K.Farrugia@abertay.ac.uk.

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2011.07.008 doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2011.04.003