Autopsy Report: Emad Kazem Taleb, Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq (Natural) (0147-03-CID259-61195) (Death Certificate Included)

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Autopsy Number: 03-369. Emad Kazam Taleb was a prisoner at Abu Ghraib prison. On or about August 20, 2003 he was noted to be pulseless and apneic. Autopsy found an enlarged heart and significant narrowing of one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Cause of Death: Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (heart attack). Manner of Death: Natural.

Doc_type: 
Medical
Doc_date: 
Thursday, October 9, 2003
Doc_rel_date: 
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Doc_text: 

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ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY
Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner
1413 Research Blvd., Bldg. 102
Rockville, MD 20850
1-800-944-7912

AUTOPSY EXAMINATION REPORT
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Autopsy No.: 03-369
AFIP No.:2892220 Date ofBirth:Unknown Rank.:NA Date/Time ofDeath: 20 Aug 2003 Place of Death: Abu Ghraib Prison,
Iraq DatelTime ofAutopsy: 22 Aug 2003 Place of Autopsy: Camp Sather, Iraq Date of Report: 9 Oct 2003
Circumstances of Death: The decedent was a prisoner in Abu Ghraib prison in U.S.
Custody. On or about 20 Aug 2003 he was noted to be pulseless and apneic.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful. There was no prior complaint or
trauma.

Authorization for Autopsy: Armed Forces Medical Examiner, per 10 U.S. Code 1471
Identification: Tentative by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). Antemortem dental, fingerprint, and DNA profile not available.
CAUSE OF DEATH: Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
MANNER OF DEATH: Natural
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AUTOPSY REPORT ME03-369
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FINAL AUTOPSY DIAGNOSES:
1. Mild-moderate three vessel coronary arteriosclerosis
A. Ischemic cardiomyopathy (450 grams)
B. Left ventricle hypertrophy (1.8 cm)
C. Pulmonary edema and congestion (combined weight 1900 grams)
D. Chronic passive congestion of the liver
E. Congestive splenomegaly (350 grams)
II. Hemangioma of the liver
III. Mild decomposition
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AUTOPSY REPORT ME03-369
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EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
The body is that of a well-developed, well-nourished appearing, muscular 72inch tall 160 pounds (estimated) male with an estimated age of 40 years. Lividity is posterior, purple, and fixed. Rigor is absent.
There is early postmortem decomposition indicated by corneal clouding and early skin slippage.
Identifying marks include a Y2 inch circular scar on the anterior left forearm and a vertical 3-Y2 inch scar on the posterior right hand.
The scalp is covered with gray-black hair in a normal distribution. Corneal clouding
obscures the irides and pupils. The external auditory canals are unremarkable. The ears are unremarkable. The nares are patent and the lips are atraumatic. The nose and
maxillae are palpably stable. The teeth appear natural and in good repair.
The neck is straight, and the trachea is midline and mobile. The chest is symmetric. The abdomen is flat. The genitalia are those ofa normal adult male. The testes are descended and free ofmasses. Pubic hair is present in a normal distribution. The buttocks and anus are unremarkable.
The upper and lower extremities are symmetric and without clubbing or edema.
CLOTHING AND PERSONAL EFFECTS
None.
MEDICAL INTERVENTION
No attached medical devices or artifacts of therapy.
EVIDENCE OF INJURY
None.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION
HEAD: The galeal and subgaleal soft tissues of the scalp are free ofinjury. The calvarium is intact, as is the dura mater beneath it. Clear cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the 1500 gm brain, which has unremarkable gyri and sulci and vascular congestion. Coronal sections demonstrate sharp demarcation between white and grey matter, without hemorrhage or
} contusive injury. The ventricles are of normal size. The basal ganglia, brainstem,
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AUTOPSY REPORT ME03-369
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cerebellum, and arterial systems are free of injury or other abnormalities. There are no
skull fractures. The atlanto-occipital joint is stable.

NECK:
The anterior strap muscles of the neck are homogenous and red-brown, without
hemorrhage. The thyroid cartilage and hyoid are intact. The larynx is lined by intact
white mucosa. The thyroid is symmetric and red-brown, without cystic or nodular
change. The tongue is free ofbite marks, hemorrhage, or other injuries.

BODY CAVITIES:
The ribs, sternum, and vertebral bodies are visibly and palpably intact. No excess fluid is
in the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal cavities. The organs occupy their usual anatomic

positions.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
The right and left lungs are edematous, congested and weigh 1000 and 900 gm,
respectively. The external surfaces are smooth and deep red-purple. No mass lesions or
areas of consolidation are present.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:
,The 450 gm heart is globular in shape but contained in an intact pericardial sac. The
epicardial surface is smooth, with minimal fat investment. The coronary arteries are
present in a normal distribution, with a right-dominant pattern. Cross sections of the
vessels show multifocal stenoses ofthe left anterior descending coronary artery. The right
coronary artery has 50-75% mulitfocal stenoses ofthe proximal and mid segments. The
myocardium is homogenous, red-brown, and firm. The valve leaflets are thin and
mobile. The walls of the left and right ventricles are 1. 8 and O.6-cm thick, respectively.
The septum is hypertrophied measuring 2.0 cm in thickness. The endocardium is smooth
and glistening. The aorta gives rise to three intact and patent arch vessels. The renal and
mesenteric vessels are unremarkable.

LIVER & BILIARY SYSTEM:
The 1900 gm liver has an intact, smooth capsule with congested parenchyma. There is a 1
% x 1 Yz inch subcapsular hemangioma. The gallbladder contains a minute amount of
green-black bile and no stones. The mucosal surface is green and velvety. The
extrahepatic biliary tree is patent.

SPLEEN:
The 350-gram spleen has a smooth, intact, red-purple capsule. The parenchyma is
maroon and congested, with distinct Malpighian corpuscles.

PANCREAS:
The pancreas is finn and yellow-tan, with the usual lobular architecture. No mass lesions
or other abnonnalities are seen.

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AUTOPSY REPORT ME03-369
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~:~ ADRENALS:
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The right and left adrenal glands are symmetric, with bright yellow cortices and grey medullae. No masses or areas ofhemorrhage are identified.
GENITOURINARY SYSTEM: The right and left kidneys weigh 350 gm, each. The external surfaces are intact and smooth. The cut surfaces are red-tan and congested, with unifonnly thick cortices and sharp corticomedullary junctions. The pelves are unremarkable and the ureters are normal in course and caliber. White bladder mucosa overlies an intact bladder wall. The bladder is devoid ofurine. The prostate is normal in size, with lobular, yellow-tan parenchyma. The seminal vesicles are unremarkable. The testes are free of mass lesions, contusions, or other abnormalities.
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT:
The esophagus is intact and lined by smooth, grey-white mucosa. The stomach contains
approximately 25 ml of yellow liquid. The gastric wall is intact. The duodenum, loops
of small bowel, and colon are unremarkable. The appendix is present and unremarkable.
ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES

Documentary photographs are taken bYrb)(6~2 I


Specimens retained for toxicologic testing and/or DNA identification are: vitreous, blood, spleen, liver, brain, gastric contents, and psoas muscle


The dissected organs are forwarded with body

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
Selected portions oforgans are retained in formalin, without preparation ofhistologic slides.
TOXICOLOGIC ANALYSIS
Toxicologic analysis ofblood and vitreous fluid were negative for ethanol (alcohol) and illicit substances .
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AUTOPSY REPORT ME03-369
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OPINION
This Iraqi male prisoner ofwar died of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Significant findings of the autopsy included an enlarged heart and significant narrowing of one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The lungs, liver, and spleen were congested most likely due to inadequate pumping ofthe heart. An unrelated finding was a hemangioma (a benign blood vessel tumor) ofthe liver that did not contribute to death. There was no
internal or external trauma.
The manner ofdeath is natural.
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MAJ,Me, USA Deputy Medical Examiner
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DOD 003317

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3278
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72