International Journal of Health Research and Medico Legal Practice

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Pattern of Death in Unknown/Unclaimed Bodies Brought at a Tertiary Healthcare Centre in Mumbai


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1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Grant Govt. Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, Mumbai-08, India
 

Identity of an individual plays an important role in life as well as death. It becomes a difficult task for even a seasoned forensic expert to determine to establish the identity of the unknown/unclaimed body. The current study was undertaken in order to establish the parameters to study the cause/manner of death in unknown/unindentified individuals. Documents like the ADR report, Inquest, Panchnama provided by the police were scrutinized thoroughly. Data was analysed using MS Excel 2013 software. The reasons which lead to a lapse of judgment on the part of the forensic expert or the investigating officer such as foetuses, mutilated or decomposed bodies, body parts are also were also analysed in this study. It was observed that out of the 7.6% unknown cases, most cases were in the 31-40 years age bracket, with male predominance seen especially in the month of August. Respiratory illness was the cause of most of the natural deaths, while Head Injury was the leading cause of unnatural deaths. We feel a web-based interactive tracking application is unequivocally essential to bridge the time gap between the Investigating Officer and the Forensic Expert. Also, the intersectoral co-ordination of medicine and law enforcement agencies may play a crucial role in a smooth functioning of finding the identity of the individual.
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  • Pattern of Death in Unknown/Unclaimed Bodies Brought at a Tertiary Healthcare Centre in Mumbai

Abstract Views: 475  |  PDF Views: 94

Authors

B. G. Chikhalkar
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Grant Govt. Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, Mumbai-08, India
G. S. Chavan
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Grant Govt. Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, Mumbai-08, India
Nitish Nadkarni
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Grant Govt. Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, Mumbai-08, India
S. D. Nanandkar
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Grant Govt. Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, Mumbai-08, India

Abstract


Identity of an individual plays an important role in life as well as death. It becomes a difficult task for even a seasoned forensic expert to determine to establish the identity of the unknown/unclaimed body. The current study was undertaken in order to establish the parameters to study the cause/manner of death in unknown/unindentified individuals. Documents like the ADR report, Inquest, Panchnama provided by the police were scrutinized thoroughly. Data was analysed using MS Excel 2013 software. The reasons which lead to a lapse of judgment on the part of the forensic expert or the investigating officer such as foetuses, mutilated or decomposed bodies, body parts are also were also analysed in this study. It was observed that out of the 7.6% unknown cases, most cases were in the 31-40 years age bracket, with male predominance seen especially in the month of August. Respiratory illness was the cause of most of the natural deaths, while Head Injury was the leading cause of unnatural deaths. We feel a web-based interactive tracking application is unequivocally essential to bridge the time gap between the Investigating Officer and the Forensic Expert. Also, the intersectoral co-ordination of medicine and law enforcement agencies may play a crucial role in a smooth functioning of finding the identity of the individual.

References