Cocaine, Fetal Loss, and the Role of the Forensic Pathologist
Nolte, KB
Formerly, associate med. examiner, Office of the Chief Med. Examiner, State of Connecticut, Farmington, CT. Currently, medical investigator and asst. prof. of pathology, Office of the Med. Investigator, Univ. of N. Mexico Schl of Med., Albuquerque, NM.


Abstract
Adverse obstetrical outcomes are often associated with maternal cocaine use. These have included intrauterine growth retardation, abruptio placentae, and an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion and pre-term labor. This report details the case of an 18-week-gestation fetus recovered from a sewage treatment plant. A brain specimen was positive for cocaine. With the present epidemic of cocaine abuse, it is important for the forensic pathologist to seek toxicologic evidence of cocaine in all suspicious fetal and neonatal deaths.

Keywords:
cocaine, forensic science, neonatal death, pathology and biology

Paper ID: JFS363910926

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Author Nolte KB Title Cocaine, Fetal Loss, and the Role of the Forensic Pathologist Symposium , Committee on