Medico-legal importance of necrotizing fasciitis

Hasan Abder-Rahman; Ibrahim Habash; Raghad Alami; Touleen Alnimer; Imad Al-Abdallat

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102019

Medico-legal importance of necrotizing fasciitis

J Forensic Leg Med. 2020 Aug:74:102019. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102019. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Authors

Hasan Abder-Rahman¹, Ibrahim Habash², Raghad Alami³, Touleen Alnimer⁴, Imad Al-Abdallat⁵

Affiliations

¹ Forensic Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. Electronic address: H.abderrahman@ju.edu.jo.
² Forensic Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. Electronic address: ibrhbsh_forensic@yahoo.com.
³ Ophthalmology Department, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. Electronic address: rghdalami@gmail.com.
⁴ Medical Student, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. Electronic address: touleen95@gmail.com.
⁵ Forensic Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. Electronic address: imadabdallat@yahoo.com.

PMID: 32658769
DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102019

Abstract

Despite the rarity of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), it is a relatively common cause of death in many lawsuits. Families seek financial compensation or legal charges against those they believe to be involved in the death, usually physicians who did not identify the infection soon enough. This paper explores six cases in forensic pathology practice where NF posed a unique medico-legal dilemma.

Keywords: Forensic; Litigation; Medico-legal; Necrotizing fasciitis; Post-mortem.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged, 80 and over
Cellulitis / diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Errors* / legislation & jurisprudence
Fasciitis, Necrotizing / diagnosis*
Female
Forensic Medicine
Humans
Male
Malpractice* / legislation & jurisprudence
Middle Aged
Missed Diagnosis* / legislation & jurisprudence
Physical Abuse
Wounds and Injuries / complications