Survival time in gunshot and stab wound victims.

Forensic pathologists are often asked to estimate postinjury survival time and to render an opinion on the probable extent of physical activity following fatal injury. To study this question, the case files of the Dade County Medical Examiner's Office were reviewed. The year 1983 was chosen arbitrarily for this study and all the autopsy reports of gunshot or stab wound victims whose survival period satisfied criteria established for this study were reviewed. The data were compared to those from a similar study done in 1961. In addition, this study noted the presence and influence of drugs or alcohol on the cause of death and the postinjury survival time.