Introduction

Recognition and documentation of injuries is an essential step in the evaluation of victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, or other forms of abuse in which injuries are incurred. Although many of these injuries are medically “insignificant,” they can still have significant forensic value if adequately documented. Physicians and nurses who examine these patients may find themselves with the additional role of forensic photographer. While most providers will not have the benefit of formal training in photography, it is important to understand some basic principles of forensic photography. This chapter is intended to outline these principles to allow you to maximize the use of photography in the care of assault victims. Many photographs referred to are included in the color insert.

Injury documentation

When an injury is identified, it is important to record the findings. Ideally, injuries should be recorded in three ways: a written description, complemented by diagrams and finally by photography.

Written description

The written description of the injury should be simple and accurate. It should include the location of the injury and describe the type of injury (e.g., contusion / burn / stab wound). Both the width and length of the injury should be noted. If the injury has a specific shape or pattern, describe it (circular, curvilinear, linear, triangular, etc.).

Even in experienced hands, some injuries can be difficult to describe and often words alone fail to describe the injuries adequately. For this reason, supplementing the written description with body diagrams and photographs is essential.