El papel del médico legista en la identificación de los accidentes de trabajoa propósito de un caso de intoxicación por gasolina
- Pérez Cárceles, María Dolores
- Hernández del Rincón, Juan Pedro
- Osuna Carrillo-Albornoz, Eduardo Javier
- Falcón Romero, María
- Torres Sánchez, M. C.
- Luna Maldonado, Aurelio
ISSN: 1575-6793
Year of publication: 2005
Issue Title: Monográfico: Odontología forense
Issue: 7
Pages: 185-192
Type: Article
More publications in: Ciencia forense: Revista aragonesa de medicina legal
Abstract
The forensic pathologist (medical examiner) on call at the University Hospital of Murcia attended to a case of suspected violent death. The autopsy revealed burns to the left hand side of the body and head region, signs of general visceral congestion, pulmonary oedema and a blackish red colour of intestine (compatible with localised necrotic ischemia). The results of the autopsy and investigation into the case led the forensic doctor to suspect work-origin intoxication, for which reason the Health and Safety Executive was informed; this body had had no previous notice of such an accident occurring. Toxicological analyses performed demonstrated the presence of gasoline in cardiac blood (18,0 µg/ml), peripheric blood (19,3 µg/ml) and urine (2,3 µg/ml), values considered much above the lethal dose. High value were also found for liver (52,9 µg/g), kidney (34,9 µg/g), lung (8,4 µg/g), brain (65,6 µg/g) and gastric content (65,6 µg/g). The data, together with information provided by the Health and Safety Executive confirmed the hypothesis of industrial intoxication by gasoline in the worker, who had been carrying out certain infrastructure improvements, amongst which were cleaning operations carried out in a confined space.