The International Society of Forensic Radiology held their 8th annual congress in Berlin, Germany in May 2019, led by chair Dr. Lars Oesterhelweg (Deputy Director, Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Berlin, Germany).
It was a great conference on all things forensic imaging, investigation, pathology and anthropology. Some of the themes discussed in various sessions included gunshots, road traffic accidents, post mortem cardiac studies and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). Other exciting studies and advances spoken about included fractography, facial reconstruction using basic software and PMCT, MRI in strangulation and post mortem Pulmonary Angiogram by administering contrast via a direct puncture into the left ventricle.
Our very own Edel Doyle (secretary of the IAFR and ANZ Branch secretary and founding member) spoke about the starting the Australian and New Zealand branch of the IAFR to establish networks around Australia and New Zealand for forensic radiographers and assist in ongoing education and professional development in the area of forensic radiography. Edel spoke about the survey the branch is conducting to establish current forensic practices in Australia and New Zealand and how we aim to use the results to develop best practice guidelines in collaboration with ASMIRT. Edel also presented a very interesting talk on the new guidelines for Best practice on Imaging for Age Estimation in the Living. Australia was also represented by Keely McIntosh, a forensic anthropology student from the University of Adelaide who presented a poster on her work in Introducing a multivariable prediction tool for age estimation in subadults using craniometrics.
