Big data in forensic medicine - development of a first forensic pathology database

This article highlights the difficulties that researchers face when analysing forensic medical data and how the development of a forensic pathology database can help overcome these challenges. The authors created a first prototype of a forensic pathology database. The database includes various data points, such as sex, age, height, weight, examination and autopsy details, for each case. Additionally, data from whole-body post-mortem computed tomography were reviewed. The database was built using PostgreSQL© and a web and desktop user interface. A form was created for each report, allowing easy data entry, modification, and deletion. The database scheme was designed with a primary focus on the main table containing essential case details such as age, height, weight, date and time of death (interval). Intermediate tables were used to model additional information through a one-to-many relationship with the main table. The fully automated analysis enabled by the database has the potential to provide new insights into unexplained deaths and contribute to the development of new techniques and technologies in forensic pathology. The authors anticipate that already this database prototype and especially its future updated versions will be a valuable resource for researchers seeking to analyse forensic medical data and advance the field of forensics.