Author/Editor     Balažic, J
Title     Activities of the Institute of forensic medicine in identifying victims of mass disasters
Type     članek
Source     In: Bergamini PR, editor. Personal identification. Proceedings of the fourth international meeting on forensic medicine Alpe-Adria-Pannonia; 1994 May 12-14; Grado. Gorizia: Universita degli studi di Trieste,
Publication year     1994
Volume     str. 209-13
Language     eng
Abstract     The Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Ljubljana has been participating in activities involving the identification of victims of mass disasters at home and abroad for several years. Identification is a specific act with no particular model for working, because no two catastrophes are the same. Valuable experience gained in past years has not made us complacent but has rather encouraged us to be even more perfect in our work. In the event of a disaster and a large number of victims, we try to identify them as quickly as possible. Modern techniques and new discoveries in medicine provide ever better results in this field. The introduction of genetics and modern molecular biology into the field of identification enables us to identify dismembered bodies. DNA fingerprint identification makes the process easier, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Ljubljana began an accelerated development of a DNA laboratory within the Centre of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine. In the event of disasters, we would be able to use these new methods and techniques as well as our modern audio, video and computer equipment. This modern concept of victim identification will be applied in the exercise called "Catastrophic earthquake in Ljubljana with 8,000 victims", currently being prepared by competent services of the city of Ljubljana.
Descriptors     DISASTERS
FORENSIC MEDICINE