Huddle and Whaley Present at Minnesota Coroners’ and Medical Examiners’ Association seminar
Lauren N. (Nikki) Huddle, M.D., clinical assistant professor, and Kevin D. Whaley, M.D., clinical associate professor, with the SMHS Department of Pathology, presented at the 38th Annual Forensic Science Seminar of the Minnesota Coroners’ and Medical Examiners’ Association on Sept 22, 2022.
Dr. Huddle presented “A Staged Hanging: Postmortem Suspension of a Homicide Victim,” the case of a homicidal strangulation staged to appear as a suicidal hanging. The objectives were to recognize mechanisms of asphyxia deaths and to compare classic autopsy and scene findings in deaths due to hanging versus strangulation.
Dr. Whaley’s case presentation, “A Common Manner by Uncommon Means,” centered on suicidal organophosphate ingestion. Objectives included identifying the clinical presentation indicative of cholinergic toxidrome and recognizing the potential risk of postmortem off-gassing. Dr. Whaley gave an extended presentation of this case at the 23rd Annual North Dakota State-Wide Trauma Conference sponsored by the North Dakota Trauma Conference on Sept 29, 2022.
Drs. Huddle and Whaley, in addition to Department of Pathology faculty Mary Ann Sens, M.D., Ph.D., and Susan Roe, M.D., are members of the Board of the Minnesota Coroners’ and Medical Examiners’ Association. At the meeting, Huddle was elected to the position of Vice President, a two-year term, with subsequent promotion into the position of President for an additional two years.
