Forensic Podiatry: Principles and Methods

Forensic Podiatry: Principles and Methods. 1st Ed. By John A. DiMaggio and Wesley Vernon. 186 pages. Humana Press, New York, NY, 2011. $169 (eBook); $219 (hardcover).

The highest honor bestowed by the criminalistics section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences is the Paul L. Kirk Award. Kirk, one of history's most notable forensic scientists, once said, “Wherever he steps, wherever he touches, whatever he leaves, even without consciousness, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or footprints … .” He continues, “This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value.”[1]

These words can be used to describe the book Forensic Podiatry: Principle and Methods, penned by podiatrists John A. DiMaggio and Wesley Vernon. It serves as a rigorously factual, practice-based introduction to the principles and practices of forensic pedal examination, with recognition of the sciences involved where appropriate.

Many professions offer forensic assistance in the realm of criminal investigations. For example, there are experts in forensic dentistry, forensic accounting, and forensic engineering. Forensic podiatry has emerged over the past 30 years in great part due to authors DiMaggio and Vernon. Both have contributed to the development of forensic pedal examination techniques, assisted in the recognition of forensic podiatry as a distinct subspecialty of the field, and helped facilitate teamwork between podiatrists and other forensic specialists. Each is highly respected and eminently qualified to write this book.

This volume is instantly important because, until now, forensic podiatry lacked a definitive source book. The authors succeed at pulling together research, testing, and hands on experience in a cohesive, easy-to-understand manner. Consequently, their work serves as an introduction to pedal evidence, not only for podiatrists, but also for interested forensic experts, detectives, and attorneys. The book assists in solidifying the credibility and relevance for the specialty of forensic podiatry and its need for a scientific basis. The book also challenges assumptions podiatrists unfamiliar with forensics may have held about pedal evidence. One of the tenets the authors emphasize is that the forensic podiatrist is only one part of a forensic team. These specialists will often work with laboratory personnel, detectives, forensic anthropologists, and other experts throughout the course of an investigation.

Forensic Podiatry is divided into four main sections: General Forensic Concerns, Podiatric Forensic Concerns, Pedal Case Work, and Medicolegal Concerns.

Part I, “General Forensic Concerns,” contains two chapters that provide an overview of forensic medicine basics as they relate to pedal evidence. Chapter 1 builds on the authors' intent to prepare podiatrists to work with other forensic team members. It provides an overview of the crime scene, establishes the importance of chain of custody with evidence, and describes the crime laboratory. The chapter also covers concerns about collecting pedal evidence and gives insight into methods with which foot-related evidence can be enhanced to reveal more detail.

Chapter 2 introduces the basics of forensic human identification and forensic podiatry, arguing that it is, in fact, a science unto itself. Most important for podiatrists, the authors explain how the use of science for forensic purposes is fundamentally different from how podiatrists use science in a clinical setting. The authors explain that “in clinical diagnosis, the propositional knowledge approach predominates, with scientific adjustments and excursions being required where that approach is not immediately successful. Conversely, in forensic practice, the approach must use the principles of applied science from the start, with there being no potential for ‘diagnostic' adjustments as the work progresses.” This chapter includes the basics of forensic methodology with regard to identifying individuals from pedal evidence. Presenting a text grounded in scientific fact, the authors point out that, as of yet, forensic podiatry evidence has not been proven to show individual or unique identification. This illustrates that forensic podiatry needs to use scientific or robust understandings, and not use an underdeveloped understanding that may occur in private podiatry practice. Thus, the forensic podiatrist cannot say a footprint made by a given individual is unique. However, the podiatrist may point out what are termed “class” characteristics. To podiatrists unfamiliar with forensic medicine, it may sound like the ability to examine evidence is limited, but this is not the case. According to the authors, “class characteristics can create a picture of much stronger individuality than they would on their own as long as those characteristics are independently variable from one another.”

Part II, Podiatric Forensic Concerns, will be the most interesting section for podiatrists. It focuses on bare footprint examination as well as footwear examination and analysis. Chapter 3 reviews methods of photographing evidence, starting with how to set up cameras to avoid distortion in computer analysis. Chapter 4 delves into bare footprint identification, reviewing the various methods of analyzing a print. Whether a podiatrist chooses to become a forensic podiatrist or merely has a passing interest, this section will undoubtedly prove fascinating.

Chapter 4 also focuses on footwear examination. The authors review the various aspects of footwear, from distortions of the upper of the shoe to foot and toe impressions inside the shoe. Furthermore, they discuss how to discern relevant forensic information from each area of a shoe, boot, or other type of footwear. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the outsole wear patterns that occur on the bottom of shoes. Contrary to what many podiatrists might think, the authors urge great caution when drawing conclusions from wear patterns, as they are unstable and can be influenced by numerous factors.

Chapter 6 deals with the newest aspect of forensic podiatry – gait analysis. This element of forensic podiatry helps with “identifying people by the unique characteristics of their manner of walking.”[2] However, the authors do suggest this definition is somewhat optimistic, as to date, the characteristics of walking and the features of a persons' gait as evaluated qualitatively have not been demonstrated to be unique, “although there are certainly class level distinctions.”

Additional topics discussed in the book include a chapter (Chapter 7) on how the records most podiatrists keep in their offices have value in forensic identification. Part III of the book reviews case studies in forensic podiatry, including a footprint case study, two footwear case studies, and a forensic gait analysis study. Finally, Part IV focuses on legal concerns of forensic podiatry. Chapter 9 discusses the basics of serving as an expert witness and the standards of practice that should be maintained, including personal and professional conduct. The authors conclude the section with “Ten Essentials for Forensic Podiatry Practice.”

DiMaggio and Vernon's Forensic Podiatry: Principles and Methods is an excellent resource for podiatrists and anyone interested in the basics of pedal evidence collection, examination, and analysis. To engage in the practice of forensic podiatry requires significant study and practice. The book provides a solid foundation, addresses legal and ethical issues and presents interesting information related to the field of forensic podiatry. As of now, it is the industry standard.