Medico-Legal Update

Vijayakumar B. Jatti ¹, Shobha ², K. V. Satish ³, Nagesh C. Kuppast ⁴, R. Dileep Kumar ⁴

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, IN
2 Dept. of Anatomy, S. S. I. M. S. & R. C., Davangere, IN
3 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, B. M. C. & R.I., Bangalore, IN
4 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, S. S. I. M. S. & R. C., Davangere, IN

Abstract

Literally the term 'exhume' is a verb that means 'to dig out something that is buried', especially a corpse from the ground. The word exhumation is derived from Latin exhumare; ex-out of + humus - ground. The paper discusses about a case of 45 year lady who was killed by her brother-in-law and buried without autopsy, stating accidental death by the relatives. But later, it proved to be a murder on exhumation. The paper discusses various aspects of exhumation and also stresses the importance of careful examination and recording of personal articles, belongings etc., of the victim recovered from or with the body during autopsy examination. Exhumation, if done meticulously with the use of modern ailments, in difficult scenarios, it helps in definitively fixing the exact cause and manner of death, as in this case.

Keywords

Medico-legal Autopsy, Exhumation, Identification, Murder, Cause of Death

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