SynthesisInternational journal of legal medicine2023
Understanding the burden of unidentified bodies: a systematic review.
Synthesis in International journal of legal medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Missing, the Unidentified, and Representational Obligations to the Dead in the United States of America.APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica · 2026Review
- An evaluation of forensic casework in Greece: the impact of migration on the medicolegal system and a call for systematic decedent accounting for case resolution.International journal of legal medicine · 2026Article
- Forensic taphonomy and stable isotopes: δInternational journal of legal medicine · 2026Article
- Profile of Unidentified Dead Bodies in Northern India: A Tertiary Care Center Experience.Cureus · 2026Article
- Investigative and policy impacts of forensic genetic genealogy in the identification of human remains.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2025Article
- Responding to the call: Population affinity estimation in a South African forensic context of identification - are we helping or harming?Forensic science international. Synergy · 2025Article
- Seasonal decomposition and the effect of clothing in Cape Town, South Africa.Journal of forensic sciences · 2025Article
- Medico-legal identification of unidentified bodies and missing persons in Milan and Paris: a comparative institutional study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Forensic skeletal and molecular anthropology face to face: Combining expertise for identification of human remains.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2025Review
- Terrain of taphonomy: how biogeographic variation affects decomposition and scavenger behaviour in two forensically significant habitats of Cape Town, South Africa.International journal of legal medicine · 2025Article
- A transdisciplinary integrated approach to improve identification outcomes for decomposed decedents in medicolegal death investigations.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2025Article
- Barriers to human remains identification using forensic odontology in resource-constrained settings.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2025Review
- Sourcing and utilization of bodies of the deceased for medical education and research: An examination of West African universities.Anatomical sciences education · 2025Article
- Human identification by medical findings in a forensic anthropology context.Forensic sciences research · 2024Article
- Who are they? A retrospective study of unidentified bodies in Institute of Medical-Legal Paris from 2018 to 2023.Forensic sciences research · 2024Article
- Exploring the role of the human microbiome in forensic identification: opportunities and challenges.International journal of legal medicine · 2024Review
- Commentary on: Management of unidentified and unclaimed bodies: a comparison of model from four countries in the Asia Pacific Region.Forensic science, medicine, and pathology · 2024Article
- Management of unidentified and unclaimed bodies: a comparison of model from four countries in the Asia Pacific Region.Forensic science, medicine, and pathology · 2024Article
- The climate missing: identifying bodies and preventing disappearances linked to climate change.BMJ global health · 2024Article
- 4th DNA Forensic Symposium: Challenges and future directions in Africa.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
While human identification is a crucial aspect of medico-legal investigations, many individuals remain unidentified each year across the world. The burden of unidentified bodies is often referred to when motivating for improved methods of identification, and anatomical teaching, yet the actual burden is somewhat unclear. A systematic literature review was undertaken to identify articles that empirically investigate the number of unidentified bodies experienced. Despite the large number of articles returned, an alarmingly low number (24 articles) provided specific and empirical details on the number of unidentified bodies, demographics and trends thereof. It is possible that this lack of data is due to the variable definition of 'unidentified' bodies and the use of alternative terminology such as 'homelessness' or 'unclaimed' bodies. Nevertheless, the 24 articles provided data for 15 forensic facilities across ten countries of both developed and developing statuses. On average, developing countries experienced more than double (9.56%) the number of unidentified bodies when compared to developed nations (4.40%). While facilities were mandated under different legislations and infrastructures available varied greatly, the most common issue faced is the lack of standardised procedures for forensic human identification. Further to this, the need for investigative databases was highlighted. Through addressing the standardisation of identification procedures and terminology, alongside the appropriate utilisation of existing infrastructure and database creation, the number of unidentified bodies could be significantly reduced globally.
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