Forensic Sciences Research, Volume. 9, Issue 1, owad048(2024)

Corpse identification in mass disasters and other violence: the ethical challenges of a humanitarian approach

Vina Vaswani1, Luciana Caenazzo2、*, and Derek Congram3
Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Forensic Medicine and Centre for Ethics, Yenepoya (deemed to be University) University Road, Deralakatte, Mangalore, India
  • 2Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Legal Medicine Section, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
  • 3Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
  • show less
    References(19)

    [1] D Mittelman. Technology can help us tackle the “silent mass disaster” of unidentified persons. Forensic Genomics, 1, 77-80(2021).

    [2] R Williams, M Wienroth. Identity, mass fatality and forensic genetics. New Genet Soc, 33, 257-276(2014).

    [3] L Caenazzo, P Tozzo, D Rodriguez. Ethical issues in DNA identification of human biological material from mass disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med, 28, 393-396(2013).

    [4] TM Wilkinson. Respect for the dead and the ethics of anatomy: respect for the dead and the ethics of anatomy. Clin Anat, 27, 286-290(2014).

    [5] G Scarre. Archaeology and respect for the dead: archaeology and respect for the dead. J Appl Philos, 20, 237-249(2003).

    [6] B Höijer. The discourse of global compassion: the audience and media reporting of human suffering. Media Cult Soc, 26, 513-531(2004).

    [7] J Sohlberg, P Esaiasson, J Martinsson. The changing political impact of compassion-evoking pictures: the case of the drowned toddler Alan Kurdi. J Ethn Migr Stud, 45, 2275-2288(2019).

    [10] M Prinz, A Carracedo, WR Mayr et al. DNA Commission of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG): recommendations regarding the role of forensic genetics for disaster victim identification (DVI). Forensic Sci Int Genet, 1, 3-12(2007).

    [11] G Gaggioli. International Humanitarian Law: The legal framework for humanitarian forensic action. Forensic Sci Int, 282, 184-194(2018).

    [14] R Lalwani, S Kotgirwar, SA Athavale. Changing medical education scenario: a wakeup call for reforms in anatomy act. BMC Med Ethics, 21, 63(2020).

    [16] F Tomasini. Is post-mortem harm possible? Understanding death harm and grief. Bioethics, 23, 441-449(2009).

    [17] Y Cao, Y Ma, DN Vieira et al. A potential method for sex estimation of human skeletons using deep learning and three-dimensional surface scanning. Int J Leg Med, 135, 2409-2421(2021).

    [18] N Galante, R Cotroneo, D Furci et al. Applications of artificial intelligence in forensic sciences: current potential benefits, limitations and perspectives. Int J Leg Med, 137, 445-458(2023).

    [19] M Pathak, H Narang. Application of artificial intelligence in the field of forensic medicine. MLU, 21, 56-65(2021).

    [20] LS Khoo, MS Mahmood. Application of facial recognition technology on identification of the dead during large scale disasters. Forensic Sci Int Synergy, 2, 238-239(2020).

    [21] DG Jones. Anat Sci Educ, 610-617(2023).

    [22] GR Schug, K Killgrove, A Atkin et al. 3D dead: ethical considerations in digital human. Osteology Bioarchaeol Int, 4, 3-4(2021).

    [23] P Mesejo, R Martos, Ó Ibáñez et al. A survey on artificial intelligence techniques for biomedical image analysis in skeleton-based forensic human identification. Appl Sci, 10, 4703(2020).

    Tools

    Get Citation

    Copy Citation Text

    Vina Vaswani, Luciana Caenazzo, Derek Congram. Corpse identification in mass disasters and other violence: the ethical challenges of a humanitarian approach[J]. Forensic Sciences Research, 2024, 9(1): owad048

    Download Citation

    EndNote(RIS)BibTexPlain Text
    Save article for my favorites
    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: May. 9, 2023

    Accepted: Aug. 16, 2023

    Published Online: Sep. 22, 2025

    The Author Email: Luciana Caenazzo (luciana.caenazzo@unipd.it)

    DOI:10.1093/fsr/owad048

    Topics