Age estimation: The state of the art in relation to the specific demands of forensic practise

TY - JOUR

T1 - Age estimation

T2 - The state of the art in relation to the specific demands of forensic practise

AU - Ritz-Timme, S.

AU - Cattaneo, C.

AU - Collins, M. J.

AU - Waite, E. R.

AU - Schütz, H. W.

AU - Kaatsch, H. J.

AU - Borrman, H. I.M.

PY - 2000/4/1

Y1 - 2000/4/1

N2 - Age estimation in cadavers, human remains and living individuals may clarify issues with significant legal and social ramifications for individuals as well as for the community. In such cases methods for estimating age should fulfil the following specific demands: (1) they must have been presented to the scientific community, as a rule by publication in peer-reviewed journals, (2) clear information concerning accuracy of age estimation by the method should be available, (3) the methods need to be sufficiently accurate and (4) in cases of age estimation in living individuals principles of medical ethics and legal regulations have to be considered. We have identified and summarized the methods that essentially fulfil these specific demands. In childhood and adolescence morphological methods based on the radiological examination of dental and skeletal development are to be recommended. In adulthood, the accuracy of most morphological methods is much reduced. Here a biochemical method based on aspartic acid racemization in dentine provides the most accurate estimates of age, followed by special morphological dental and skeletal methods. The choice of method has to take account of the individual circumstances of each case. Most methods require either the consultation of specialised and trained scientists or an adequate calibration by the 'user'. Very few attempts have been made to find common standardisation, calibration and evaluation procedures or to develop means of quality assurance for methods of age estimation. Efforts in these directions are necessary to guarantee quality standards and adequate answers to the important legal and social issue of age estimation in forensic medicine.

AB - Age estimation in cadavers, human remains and living individuals may clarify issues with significant legal and social ramifications for individuals as well as for the community. In such cases methods for estimating age should fulfil the following specific demands: (1) they must have been presented to the scientific community, as a rule by publication in peer-reviewed journals, (2) clear information concerning accuracy of age estimation by the method should be available, (3) the methods need to be sufficiently accurate and (4) in cases of age estimation in living individuals principles of medical ethics and legal regulations have to be considered. We have identified and summarized the methods that essentially fulfil these specific demands. In childhood and adolescence morphological methods based on the radiological examination of dental and skeletal development are to be recommended. In adulthood, the accuracy of most morphological methods is much reduced. Here a biochemical method based on aspartic acid racemization in dentine provides the most accurate estimates of age, followed by special morphological dental and skeletal methods. The choice of method has to take account of the individual circumstances of each case. Most methods require either the consultation of specialised and trained scientists or an adequate calibration by the 'user'. Very few attempts have been made to find common standardisation, calibration and evaluation procedures or to develop means of quality assurance for methods of age estimation. Efforts in these directions are necessary to guarantee quality standards and adequate answers to the important legal and social issue of age estimation in forensic medicine.

KW - Age estimation

KW - Demands

KW - Forensic practise

KW - State of the art

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034122006&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s004140050283

DO - 10.1007/s004140050283

M3 - Review

C2 - 10876982

AN - SCOPUS:0034122006

SN - 0937-9827

VL - 113

SP - 129

EP - 136

JO - International Journal of Legal Medicine

JF - International Journal of Legal Medicine

IS - 3

ER -