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Testimony

Nurse Expert Witness: The Basics and Beyond

Oh, I do love a good expert witness webinar. And IAFN and AALNC are offering a joint one Auguts 17th at 3pm ET, The Nurse Expert Witness: The Basics and Beyond (plus they’re offering CEUs). Registration’s not yet open for this event, but it’s worth getting on your calendar, and I will update the page when it becomes available .

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Child Abuse Sexual Assault Testimony

Child Fatalities

I have a lot of respected friends and colleagues who care for pediatric  abusive head trauma and sexual abuse patients. And I have a lot of respected friends and colleagues who prosecute these cases.  So I will be interested in feedback about this particular Frontline program (it debuted last night on PBS) that looks at child fatalities and its central premise that some forensic pathologists are ill-equipped to fully explore cause of death in child cases where abuse is suspected.

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Photo Basics

I have had quite a few emails from my Photo post the other day, including several questions about how to get stronger on the foundations–simply understanding the way the camera works and how to take a basic shot. In a lovely example of the planets aligning, Lifehacker, a favorite timesuck of mine, has a new Night School post, The Basics of Photography: The Complete Guide

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Child Abuse DV/IPV Sexual Assault

Healthy People 2020

In the US, the Department of Health and Human Services provides science-based healthcare objectives for the country in a document called Healthy People. Healthy People 2020 was released at the end of last year, and if you haven’t had a chance to see it (made easier by a pretty decent website), it’s worth looking at. Struggling to get your healthcare agency to continue supporting your program? Trying to explain to a judge or jury why what you do isn’t just evidence collection, but healthcare? Well, Healthy People is a good way to underscore this point–by looking at the Healthy People 2010 outcomes (like this one specific to IPV), and by pointing to what the country’s objectives are in the newest version.

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Uncategorized

New Page

At the request of several readers, I have added a 10 Things tab to the top nav where you can find all of the lists I’ve published to date. Thanks for asking!

Categories
Sexual Assault

10 Things: Photography

When training lawyers, as I was yesterday, one topic we always discuss is photography and the pros and cons of taking photographs. Particularly genital photographs. I have found both prosecutors and defense counsel have some very specific opinions about this, and I love to have that conversation. But in the course of yesterday’s conversation, I realized that I, too, have some pretty strong opinions on the subject I figured I would share. Now, I am keenly aware that many of my colleagues outside the US have forgone genital photography entirely, but since it’s still commonplace here, and because I review a lot of injury photos as part of my job consulting on cases,  I’d like to offer up a list of 10 Things I’d love clinicians to consider when using photography in practice. Mind you, these really are strictly my opinion, so take them for what they are–a jumping off point for further discussion on the topic.

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Uncategorized

What were they thinking?

Clearly, I’m having trouble grasping just what Kia Motors thought was a great marketing nugget in this particular ad:

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Articles of Note Child Abuse DV/IPV Elder Abuse/Neglect Sexual Assault

Articles of Note: June Edition

Time once again for this month’s Articles of Note. These are a selection from peer-reviewed journals that feel particularly relevant to our practice. Remember, it’s in no way a comprehensive or exhaustive list, but it’s an excellent place to start. The majority of the links will take you to PubMed. However, I have included one free full-text article, so look out for that one. Articles are from the late May/June/July issues or electronic publications. A printable list is after the jump, followed by the list of live links.

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Sexual Assault

Sexual Abuse Behind Bars

SAFEta Source has another webinar coming up in July. Sexual Abuse Behind Bars: Serving Incarcerated Victims will be held July 28th at 2pm ET. As always, SAFEta webinars are free of charge.

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Uncategorized

Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator

For all of our death investigator colleagues, the newly published Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator from the US Department of Justice (PDF).

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DV/IPV

Anatomical and Physiological Changes Secondary to PTSD

The Defense Centers of Excellence are hosting a webinar June 23rd, from 1-2:30: Anatomical and Physiological Changes Secondary to PTSD. The session is free of charge, but preregistration is required. Even if you can’t attend, it’s worth checking out the enormous number of resources they list on the site’s page.

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Child Abuse DV/IPV Sexual Assault

Clinical Guide: Adverse Childhood Experiences

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, conducted by Dr. Vincent Felitti and his colleagues, is one of the most frequently cited bodies of research when it comes to discussing the healthcare impact of violence in its various forms. I talk about it frequently when I teach and consult, but I realized I didn’t actually have a central place for people to get information on the ACE Study and its multiple publications, so without further delay, a new Clinical Guide.

Categories
DV/IPV Sexual Assault

A Call to Men

This Father’s Day (June 19th), be a part of the solution. Be one of 5,000 men saying no to violence. A Call to Men is looking for men to sign their online petition and make their voices heard. And while we’re talking solutions, check out their 10 Things Men Can Do:

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Uncategorized

This has no bearing on forensics whatsoever…

…Except that it’s from a prosecutor. When you slog through as many emails as I do, sometimes it’s lovely to be surprised. As I was when I more carefully read the disclaimer in this message I received as part of a technical assistance request:

This message w/attachments (message) is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or proprietary. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender, and then please delete and destroy all copies and attachments, and be advised that any review or dissemination of, or the taking of any action in reliance on, the information contained in or attached to this message is prohibited. Also, the St. Louis Cardinals are the worst baseball team to ever take the field, whereas Houston Astros fans are smart and handsome. This uncontroverted fact is accepted in whole by recipient, intended or otherwise, and any denial thereof will be held against all naysayers.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

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Friday Inspiration: You Can’t Do This Alone

I’m struggling a bit this morning with some feelings of frustration, so I thought I’d share Amy Poehler’s recent talk at Harvard. The real message begins around the 9 minute mark.

Categories
DV/IPV

Witness Intimidation in Domestic Violence Cases

My colleague Jeff Greipp is presenting a webinar for the FJCA, Witness Intimidation in Domestic Violence Cases: Emerging Promising Practices and Coordinated Community Responses. The session will take place June 23rd from 9-10:30 PDT. While this may sound very law enforcement-focused, I know how Jeff teaches this information, and he’s fantastic at weaving in the multidisciplinary threads, including the healthcare piece.

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Programs and Partnerships to Prevent Gang-Related Youth Violence

I’m in the CLE this week enjoying some family time, so apologies for light postings this week. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of County & City Health Officials and the Safe States Alliance are co-sponsoring a webcast, Programs and Partnerships to Prevent Gang-Related Youth Violence. The session will be held June 28th from 2-3:30pm ET.

Categories
Sexual Assault

Transgender Survivors: Statistics, Stories, Strategies

UPDATE: Archived version and handouts here

I mentioned this session in an earlier post, but the session has been renamed and more fully described on the website, so I thought I would do a quick update. Transgender Survivors: Statistics, Stories, Strategies for Providers, offered by SAFEta Source, will be held on June 30th from 2-3:30pm ET.

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10 Things: Birthday Edition

Today’s my birthday, and I’m going to spend it as I spend so many of my days–working. That’s not a complaint, by the way. I am quite blessed to love what I do and to be afforded the opportunity to do it with so many incredible people. However, while I’m in front of my computer I will take advantage of the fact that it’s June 1st and give you my 10 Things: Birthday Edition. Or, 10 things I hope will happen in the next 365 days: