(g) In the description of firearm wounds, note the presence or absence of marginal abrasions, lacerations or defects in the margins of the wound, foreign contents within the wound, singeing or grease marking the margins of the wound, and soot and/or gunpowder stippling or tattooing around the wound. If firearm discharge residue is present, this should be photographed and preserved for analysis. It should be determined whether the bullet wound is an entry or exit wound. If an entry wound is present and no exit wound is seen, the projectile must be found and secured or accounted for (h) All injuries should be photographed, and labelled with the autopsy identification number on a scale that is oriented parallel or perpendicular to the injury. Shave hair where necessary to clarify an injury, and take photographs with a photographic scale both before and after shaving. Save all hair removed from the site of the injury. Take photographs before and after washing the site of any injury. Wash the body only after any blood or material that may have come from an assailant has been collected and secured (i) Examine the skin. Note and photograph with a photographic scale any scars, areas of keloid formation, tattoos, prominent moles, areas of increased or decreased pigmentation, and anything distinctive or identifying, such as birthmarks. Note any bruises and incise them for delineation of their extent. Some, if not all of them, should be excised for microscopic examination as this may be useful for assessing the time between injury and death. The head and genital area should be checked with special care. Note any injection sites or puncture wounds. Note any bite marks; these should be photographed to record the dental pattern, swabbed for saliva testing (before the body is washed), and excised for microscopic examination. The evaluation of bite marks is highly contentious and they should also be evaluated by a forensic dentist with training and experience in such evaluation, if possible. Note any burn marks and assess the possible cause (e.g. burning rubber, a cigarette, electricity, a blowtorch, acid, hot oil) by sampling for histology and other analysis if possible. Note any gunpowder residue on the hands. Document this photographically and save it for analysis. Excise any suspicious areas for microscopic examination, as it may be possible in some circumstances to distinguish between burns caused by electricity and those caused by heat or cold 112 40 (j) Identify and label any foreign object that is recovered, including its relationship to specific injuries. Foreign objects should be placed in a container that should be processed in accordance with established procedures to maintain the chain of custody. Do not scratch the sides or tip of any projectiles. Photograph each projectile and large projectile fragment with an identifying label, and secure them individually in a sealed, padded and labelled container in order to maintain the chain of custody112 (k) Examine the head and external scalp, bearing in mind that injuries may be hidden by the hair. Shave hair where necessary. Check for fleas and lice, as these may indicate unsanitary conditions prior to death. Note any alopecia, as this may be caused by malnutrition, heavy metals (e.g. thallium), drugs, or traction. Pull – do not cut – 20 representative head hairs and save them, as hair may be useful for detecting some drugs and poisons. (It may also be of value in stable isotope analysis) (l) Examine the teeth and note their condition. This should be performed by a forensic odontologist if possible. Record any that are absent, loose or damaged, and record all dental work (e.g. restorations, fillings) using a dental identification system to identify each tooth (e.g., Annex 5). Check the gums for periodontal disease. Photograph dentures, if any, and save them if the deceased’s identity is unknown. Check the inside of the mouth and note any evidence of trauma, injection sites, needle marks or biting of the lips, cheeks or tongue. Note any articles or substances in the mouth. In cases of suspected sexual assault, save oral fluid, or get a swab for spermatozoa and acid phosphatase evaluation. (Swabs taken at the tooth-gum junction and samples from between the teeth provide the best specimens for identifying spermatozoa.) Also take swabs from the oral cavity for seminal fluid typing. Dry the swabs quickly with cool, blown air if possible, and secure them in clean plain-paper envelopes. (If rigor mortis prevents adequate examination, a complete oral examination may need to be deferred until later, during the internal examination. At that time, after subcutaneous disSection to expose the structures of the neck and face to permit better exposure of the oral cavity, the masseter muscles may be divided) Special packaging is needed to ensure that there has been no unauthorized interference with a specimen, as tampering with the packaging will be evident. This level of security, provided the initial securing of the sample has been adequately documented, ensures at least that the sample has not been interfered with. In addition, complete records must be kept of every time the sample changes hands. The Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016)