Establishment of the medico-legal cause of death in two atypical cases of gas embolism in hospital: Importance of the scene

Two cases of lethal gas embolism occurring in a hospital setting are presented. These did not differ with regards to the medical cause of death (MCOD), but did so with regard to the medico-legal cause of death (MLCOD). In the first case, the immediate recognition of a suspicious death and subsequent conservation of the scene led to a certain MLCOD (autolysis). In the second case, the death was initially treated as of natural cause. The subsequent disruption of the scene of death led to loss of evidence essential to establish the MLCOD, that was concluded to be undetermined. These cases illustrate the importance of medico-legal treatment of scenes of death to arrive at the MLCOD, and that the hospital setting is no exception especially as in view of potential medical liability.