Hi KZ! - I think the autopsy photos may be confused with the photos taken in ICU. Also, a new website has been created for Max. The website has a drop down box titled photos. Under this box there is a selection to view Max's ICU photos. You must login to view these photos. I do think it is possible an autopsy photo was used in the illustration comparing the stair railing to Max's frame. This photo is open to the public on the same website, same drop down box, the picture is under the title Investigator Images. IIRC this particuluar photo and illustration was not released as part of SDSO's or CPD's investigation into Max's death. I believe it was released by Dina's investigative team. Several photos of Max were released at the time Dina announced her request to reopen Max's case.
maxshacknai.com was created to provide the facts around the death of Max Shacknai. We believe the facts show that Maxs death was a homicide, whether intentional or accidental, we hope that his case is reclassified as such.
Thanks, Lash.
I have to wonder
what Jonah thinks about these photos being posted in this manner. I wonder if he approves of this "strategy." I wonder
if Dina sought his permission to post pictures of Jonah's son in this manner?
I also have to emphasize that there is
no logical way for any layperson to view any pictures of these type and make
any inferences or determinations as to what caused the marks or injuries. It is not possible for any layperson to do this. Only experts with significant knowledge of the child's medical care, and documentation within his medical records, or forensic investigators, are qualified to comment on the source of photographed marks.
Of course Max looked bad 5 days after admission. We have to remember that this is a child who, very unfortunately, suffered a second story fall onto his head and/ or face, a 30+ min cardiac arrest and paramedic resuscitation at the scene, ambulance transportation to 2 different hospitals, ER treatment at at least one of the 2 hospitals (with potential direct admit at Rady bypassing ER), and 5 days of very intensive medical care and diagnostic treatments, with transportation within the hospital to radiology, etc. It is entirely possible that many of the visible marks can be related to Max's original injuries sustained in the fall, evidence of therapy (such as various tubes and securing devices), immobility, and physiological effects such as decreased circulation to some areas of the skin, expected bruising, etc.
Patients who suffer multiple trauma, and the effects of the above (resuscitation, transport, ICU care, and physiological sequelae) do
not look good. Most people who have suffered multiple trauma look perfectly awful in ICU. That doesn't mean they were assaulted in any way. I cannot stress this enough-- ICU patients who have suffered multi-trauma look REALLY awful several days after admission. Many third space and swell up everywhere, bruising becomes more evident, the marks and bruising from medical care becomes evident (tape burns, excoriated skin, etc), and their own altered physiology from the injuries and treatments combine to produce images sometimes so shocking their own family members cannot recognize them. None of this means the patients who looking astonishingly bad have been assaulted.
It is a tremendous
leap of logic for anyone to say or imply that "this" mark in a photograph means an assault happened, without the context of the patient's entire course of injury and care. I personally think it is
extremely unwise to post pictures of this nature on a public website.
Of course he looked bad-- no one should have expected him to look like he did before the accident and 5 days in ICU. None of those pictures proves he was assaulted in
any way. IMO, they are simply inflammatory and heart breaking, and a breach of Max's privacy.
I support Dina looking for the answers she needs to begin to heal. I support her lobbying efforts to have Max's case reopened. But IMO, this website and pictures is not a good way to do that.
