A body recovered from a tank shows white, sodden, wrinkled skin over the palms and soles. Which statement about this 'washerwoman' change is CORRECT?
- A It proves the person drowned rather than being submerged after death
- B It appears within minutes of immersion and fixes the time of death
- C It indicates prolonged immersion but says nothing about whether drowning occurred ✓
- D It occurs only in salt-water immersion
Correct answer: C. It indicates prolonged immersion but says nothing about whether drowning occurred
Explanation
Washerwoman change is maceration of the epidermis from prolonged water exposure, beginning within hours and progressing to peeling of the skin in glove-and-stocking fashion over days. It reflects only the duration of immersion and occurs whether death preceded or followed entry into water, so it cannot distinguish ante-mortem drowning from post-mortem submersion. It develops in any water regardless of salinity, and its onset varies with water temperature, so it cannot fix the exact time of death.
Reference: Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.