CHARACTERIZATION OF MORTALITIES REQUIRING AUTOPSY BY A MEDICAL BOARD

Anand  Kumar; Kumar  Shubhendu; Sanjay  Kumar; Sawan  Mundri

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i12.1461

Authors

Anand Kumar Assistant Professor, Department of FMT, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Kumar Shubhendu Assistant Professor, Department of FMT, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Sanjay Kumar Associate Professor, Department of FMT, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Sawan Mundri Assistant Professor, Department of FMT, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i12.1461

Keywords:

Mortalities, Medico-legal autopsy, Medical Board, Forensic Medicine, Autopsy surgeon

Abstract

Background

In general, a single autopsy surgeon undertakes medico-legal autopsies; nonetheless, in particular scenarios, a collaboration of medical experts may occur. This study aims to characterize the mortalities necessitating medicolegal autopsies by a Medical Board over an extended timeframe, thereby facilitating the development of a comprehensive profile of such cases pertinent to this region.

Methods

A cumulative total of 262 records about post-mortem examinations performed by Medical Boards from April 2015 to March 2020 were acquired after the fulfillment of our established criteria through the method of consecutive sampling in this retro-prospective observational study, which was executed within the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi.

Results

In 17 cases (6.5%), the identification of the deceased individual could not be ascertained. A total of 5.3% (14) of the cases exhibited a considerable degree of decomposition. The majority of the autopsies [19.5% (51)] were conducted on individuals within the 21 to 30 years age demographic, comprising 212 males and 47 females. Nearly half, specifically 46.6% (122), of the autopsies were carried out on individuals identified as adherents of Hinduism, whilst 34.0% (89) were performed on adherents of the Sarna faith. Out of all autopsies, over half, accounting for 55.3% (145), were done on non-tribal people, contrasting with 38.2% (100) that were on tribal people. A significant majority, amounting to 74.0% (194), of the autopsies were conducted on individuals who were married.

Conclusion

The majority of the autopsies were conducted within the younger demographic strata, exhibiting a significant predominance of male subjects alongside a remarkable scarcity of unidentified and decomposed remains.

Recommendations

Comprehensive protocols are essential to guarantee that the performance of autopsies by Medical Boards upholds the trust and dependence of legal entities.

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