ABSTRACT
The accurate assessment and documentation of internal organ damage is of the utmost importance. It is not sufficient to document exit and entry wounds only, although these observations are vital in recreating the scenario of the shooting. Anatomical trauma needs to be well documented, and all information should be presented later in court in a succinct fashion so the jury can interpret the facts without confusion. The complete record will detail the entry, organs involved, and the exit in a progressive manner. The final comment should, without ambiguity, expand on the effects of the gun shot in simple and straight-forward terms. The forensic pathologist is prone to forget that the medical report will need to be read, and correctly interpreted, by nonmedical personnel.
