Case report and background: difficulties with identification - Sweden

Abstract

Despite the best conditions such as professional management, all possible aid and means of assistance, along with good legislation, sometimes unexpected factors occur to prevent or at the very least delay identification of the unknown deceased.

The specific difficulties in identification cases that involve several countries, as well as problems arising from inconsistencies created in the Antemortem (AM) and Postmortem (PM) files, can obstruct the identification of the recovered human remains. There may be long delays with police procedures whenever a missing person or a dead body has crossed a national border. Also, lack of professional dental investigation can make comparisons difficult or sometimes impossible.

Three cases from Swedish files have been used to illustrate such difficulties - there were some parts of the investigations that worked better than others as well as specific problems that arose from the mistakes and delays that occurred. Improving standards and learning from such difficulties may help to minimise future problems.