Medicina Legal methods for identifying earthquake victims

In the event of a tragedy such as an earthquake involving many missing persons or undocumented bodies, the Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal in Colombia employs various scientific procedures to establish identity. These methods provide families with high levels of certainty even when personal documents are unavailable or bodies are altered.

Key identification methods include fingerprint comparison, which utilizes unique lifelong patterns, and forensic dentistry, where specialists compare dental treatments and X-rays with post-mortem findings. Physical characteristics such as height, estimated age, scars, tattoos, and amputations also assist in the process.

When other methods fail, DNA analysis serves as a decisive tool. Specialists compare biological samples from the deceased with genetic profiles from relatives, including parents, children, or siblings. Additionally, Medicina Legal manages a Genetic Profile Bank for Missing Persons to facilitate these genetic cross-references.