Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Forensic Identification

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Section 4.8: Identification of Human Remains—Antemortem Data CollectionPrinciple. The medical examiner/coronermay identify the deceased by the promptand efficient use of samples and data fromfamilies, individuals, and public and privateorganizations. The data may be in electronicand/or printed form. The medical examiner/coronermust have unrestricted, rapidaccess to antemortem medical, dental,and other records for comparison.The Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of1996 establishes procedures for contacting thelegal next of kin to request antemortem data.Federal law restricts the degree to which airlinepersonnel are involved in the collection of antemortemdata and samples. In non-transportationrelatedincidents, a local or State governmentrepresentative may assume these responsibilities.Procedure. The following are some butnot all of the factors that the appropriateadministrator is expected to consider inestablishing a family assistance center(FAC)—The type of mass fatality incident determineswho is responsible for establishing and openingthe family assistance center (FAC):■■In the event of an aviation disaster, the aircarrier is expected to establish and staff theFAC.In the event of a natural disaster, the medicalexaminer/coroner is expected to consult local,State, and nongovernmental assistanceagencies.■ For other types of disasters, consult with theprimary industry involved.A. Before the legal next of kin arrive,identify a location and establish a sitewhere they can meet to provide antemortemdata and sample records (e.g.,a hotel, auditorium, or conferencecenter).B. Consider the following recommendationsas a checklist for the FAC:1. Be prepared to meet the families asthey arrive.2. Assist when necessary in coordinatingactivities to meet the families’physical and mental needs.3. Control who gains access to theFAC.4. Conduct briefings with the familiesas necessary.5. Provide a liaison between the familiesand the agencies involved whenneeded.6. Be prepared to collect antemortemdata and provide it to the appropriateagencies as required:a. Ensure that interview rooms areprivate and quiet.b. Schedule and document all interviewswith the legal next of kin.c. Limit the number of legal next ofkin in each interview room.d. Require all interviewed legal nextof kin to complete a personalinterview form.7. Maintain confidentiality and thetrust of the families.8. Consider any additional processesthat the incident may require. Flexibilityis the key word in this process.43
SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05C. Contact the legal next of kin not presentat the FAC:1. Schedule appointment times to contact family members.2. Review antemortem collection procedures with family members overthe telephone.The medical examiner/coroner or designee mayneed to have victim records in foreign languagestranslated. See “Section 6: OtherIssues” for details.3. Ensure that the interview is privateE. Establish a location to receive all inandconfidential.coming antemortem data and samples(expected to be sent via an express4. Complete a personal interview form delivery service or brought to a receivfollowingeach telephone interview. ing area other than the morgue by aD. Identify antemortem data/samplefamily member).resources: F. Notify the legal next of kin when ante1. Samples provided by the legal nextmortem data and samples have beenof kin:received.a. Dental records. G. Maintain a log of all incomingdata/samples.b. Medical records (including antemortemradiographs/x-rays).c. Fingerprints (derived from lawenforcement, military, andemployment records).d. Photographs.e. Biological samples (e.g., tissueblocks, slides, and DNA reference samples).H. Direct all data/samples to the morguefor review and analysis.Summary. Consider the wide range ofantemortem information that can aid inidentification.44
Page 3 and 4: JUNE 05Mass Fatality Incidents: A G
Page 5 and 6: Message From the DirectorEvery acti
Page 7 and 8: Technical Working Group for Mass Fa
Page 9 and 10: Cook County HospitalChicago, Illino
Page 11 and 12: AcknowledgmentsThe National Institu
Page 13 and 14: Appendix D. Procedures for DNA Samp
Page 15 and 16: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05III. Consid
Page 17 and 18: Section 2: Arriving at the SceneI.
Page 19 and 20: MASS FATALITY INCIDENTS: A GUIDE FO
Page 21 and 22: Section 3: Processing the Scene I.
Page 25: Identification of Human Remains SEC
Page 30 and 31: Section 4.2: Identification of Huma
Page 34 and 35: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05idiosyncras
Page 36 and 37: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05inventory,
Page 38 and 39: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05b. Train in
Page 40 and 41: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 0530g. Conduc
Page 42 and 43: Section 4.5: Identification of Huma
Page 46 and 47: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05remains. A
Page 48 and 49: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05C. Establis
Page 52 and 53: Section 5: Disposition of Human Rem
Page 56 and 57: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Procedure.
Page 58 and 59: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Procedure.
Page 60 and 61: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Federal Avi
Page 62 and 63: Appendix B. Disaster Mortuary Opera
Page 64 and 65: Appendix C. Facilities/Organization
Page 66 and 67: Appendix D. Procedures for DNASampl
Page 68 and 69: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Potential L
Page 70 and 71: Appendix F. Dental Numbering System
Page 72 and 73: Appendix G. Sample Remains ReleaseA
Page 74 and 75: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05AFIP, Office
Page 76 and 77: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Indiana Stat
Page 78 and 79: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05National Gov
Page 80 and 81: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Tarrant Coun
Page 82 and 83: About the National Institute of Jus

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