The article identifying victims after a disaster by dick gould

The article, ‘ Identifying Victims after a Disaster’ by Gould and Brown is hugely pertinent as it raises the need for disaster anthropologists for identifying victims not only for medical and legal purposes but also for humanitarian values. The humanitarian aspect of forensic anthropologists has increasing become crucial for grieving families who have lost their loved ones in disasters. The article argues convincingly that chain of custody of valuable forensic evidences as retrieved from the site of disaster contribute in identifying victims so that families can grieve in peace. The evidences also help to investigate the right cause of disaster and chain of events leading to the catastrophe of human deaths. Since 9/11, the field has come to the forefront of the disaster management and encourages proactive participation from myriad field to provide relevant information for medical, legal and families of victims.
The author is a forensic anthropologist who realizes the importance of forensic evidences for analyzing and identifying victims. Hence, the article gives insight into the salvage work that is carried out in the disaster areas. The 9/11 was a wake up call to help families of disaster victims. So even after three months, it helped to gather crucial evidences and helped families reconcile with the death of their loved ones. Moreover, it also helps to claim insurance and other benefits so that dependents can be financially secure. Indeed, forensic evidences have at sight of crime have always been part of criminal investigation but humanitarian aspects had come on priority only after 9/11. Disasters are intrinsically linked to people and therefore it is important their victims’ families be recognized as integral part of disaster management and provided with information that give solace to them.
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Reference
Gould, Dick and Brown, U. Identifying Victims after a Disaster. November 2005. May 24 2012. http://aaanet. org/press/an/1105/Gould. htm