Citation

Kumar BR, Sheikh NA. Indian J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2019; 13(1): 139-143.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Deptartment of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

10.5958/0973-9130.2019.00029.X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A medico legal autopsy will be required in criminal offence cases, when the death poses aspects of interest to the police, if the manner of death is unknown and if it is necessary to prevent later suspicion. Postmortem examination is a statutory requirement in all sudden, violent, unexplained, suspicious and litigious deaths. Aim and Objectives: To study the gross postmortem findings in all Medico legal Autopsies. Type of Study: Analytical prospective study. Place of Study: Study was done by the upgraded department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad. Observation and Discussion: Preponderance of male sex (53.8%) is seen over female sex (33.4%) in known cases, maximum incidence of deaths are seen in the third decade of life as 24.9%, leading cause of death are head injuries (20.39%) followed by hanging (18.4%), burns (17.02%), multiple injuries (13.86%), poisoning (9.70%), majority of deaths caused by accidents (49.2%) followed by suicide (37.5%) and least by homicides (6.2%). Perception of autopsy findings in medico legal investigation has not only perspective value but also prospective value for future deliberations of criminology and criminalists.

CONCLUSION: Medico legal Autopsies form an integral and indispensible part of an investigation of a sudden suspicious death. The skills and experience of a Autopsy surgeon facilitate the law enforcement agencies in administration of justice and bring the guilty to the gallows. © 2019, Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; homicide; suicide; burn; child; female; male; accident; incidence; autopsy; Manner of death; head injury; cause of death; hanging; Cause of death; intoxication; risk factor; socioeconomics; medicolegal aspect; middle aged; criminology; sudden death; health care; prospective study; multiple trauma; educational status; Article; lifestyle modification; young adult; wrongful death; Medico legal autopsy; tertiary care center