Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

The implementation of E-learning technologies in the classroom enhances the learning process, does not replace the lecturer or tutor. The challenges for implementation of E-learning technologies are extensive for the lecturers and the students as well. This paper discusses the issues related to the infrastructure aspects, pedagogic consideration and the need for the technology, and records the students’ attitude towards implementation of E-learning in the traditional way of teaching. The study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine at SSR Medical College in the year 2011. The students were asked to fill out a questionnaire online that covered a wide range of relevant attitudes and prior experience of information technology. Majority of students possess sufficient computer skills and agree that E-learning technologies could play an important role in medical teaching. To conclude, medical students could be benefited from the implementation of E-learning technologies in the traditional ways of teaching. Special measures should be taken to the students who lack computer skills. 

Keywords: E-learning,Infrastructure,Implementation.  

Abortion is an important health concern of women but it is increasingly being governed by patriarchal interests which often curb the freedom of women who seek abortion as a right. Consequently, illegal unsafe ways of abortion practices remains as the only alternative for these helpless women; especially the poor, widows and the unmarried. Lack of awareness, ignorance and illiteracy are some of the major factors making rural women unreachable to the safe abortion services. The present case is a hand- pick illustration of the existing status of abortion/MTP service in rural India. How and what are the circumstances compel an average Indian woman to adopt illegal and unhygienic ways of abortion is the prime focus of this case report. A 40 year old married woman becomes pregnant outside marriage; and attends a local quack for abortion. The quack gave her a medicinal twig and some crude herbal abortifacient. She was told to introduce the twig into her vaginal canal and pills to eat. She developed excessive vaginal discharge, lower abdominal cramp, fever and skin rashes. She was diagnosed as a case of septic abortion with co-morbid uterine perforation and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC); and subjected to emergency exploratory laparotomy. However, she succumbs to the complications. With this case report, we have tried to put forth a reasonable insight in to the existing inadequacy of abortion laws and apparent failure of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) services.

Keywords: Illegal abortion; Uterine perforation; Disseminated intravascular coagulation; Septicemia; Herbal abortifacient.

There are total 381 medical colleges in India out of which 176 are managed by Government and 205 are managed by private management. Out of these only 138 colleges have post graduation in forensic medicine and among these medical colleges maximum about 63% are managed by government and only 37% by unaided private medical colleges. Only one fourth are having post graduation in forensic medicine. Maximum (75%) of private medical colleges in India are either having no facilities and infrastructure for mortuaries and autopsy or not interested to start such services or not allowed by government. Therefore the maximum students of private medical colleges are not receiving proper training in the area of medicolegal works. There are 28 states and 7 territories in India. Only 13 states and one territory (Pondicherry) where private medical colleges are allowed to run post graduate course in forensic medicine and conduct autopsy. Amongst these states about 40 % of private medical colleges those running post graduate course in forensic medicine and conducting autopsy are in only in Karnataka followed by Andhra Pradesh (11.76%), UP (11.76%), Maharashtra (7.8%). Therefore, it is very essential to Government should make mandatory to all private and government colleges/ institutions to have the facilities for autopsy. 

Keywords: Autopsy centre; Medico-legal work facilities; Private medical college. 

Biological materials’ collection, preservation and analysis are essential procedures in any Medico legal work. Improper collection of these specimens can greatly alter or negate chemical and toxicological analysis. The investigation of a death from suspected poisoning may depend upon the correctness or otherwise of sampling of fluids and tissues from the body. This article is an update about the standard methods of biological materials collection procedures, preservation and analysis which will be helpful for the Medical and forensic doctors. 

Keywords: Precaution; Collection; Preservation; Biological materials; Poison; Medico legal cases. 

‘Situs inversus’ is a congenital anomaly where the normal physiological positions of the thoracic and abdominal organs are reversed giving an appearance of a perfect mirror image of the normal anatomical position of the organs. An individual with ‘Situs inversus’ usually remains asymptomatic throughout life. The diagnosis is usually made out when the individual seeks medical attention for some unrelated condition. An autopsy case of suicidal poisoning is reported where the rare phenomenon of ‘complete situs inversus’ was observed as an incidental finding. The issues of medicolegal significance associated with this anomaly are highlighted along with review of literature. 

Keywords: Situs inversus totalis; Congenital anomaly; Autopsy; Poisoning.

Tuberculosis remains a major global health problem. Tuberculosis is one of the leading cause of deaths in developing countries. The present study was conducted to assess risk factors and causes of death in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. A retrospective study was conducted in pulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted in hospital and died during treatment period from 2008 to 2012. Medical records of tuberculosis cases over the 5-year period were reviewed and death data were analyzed. Of total 2648 cases initiated on anti-TB treatment, 223 cases (8.42%) were died during treatment. Risk factors in patients who died due to pulmonary tuberculosis were: alcoholism, HIV, baseline weight < 30 kgs, smoking, diabetes, chronic renal failure and steroid use. Alcoholism was found as significant risk factor in 119 (53.36%) patients. Of the 223 deaths, 201deaths (90.13%) due to pulmonary tuberculosis and 22 (9.86%) deaths were due to other than tuberculosis. Bilateral extensive pulmonary tuberculosis was the cause of death in 163 cases (73.09%). Out of 223 deaths, 188 (84.30%) deaths occurred within 2 months of therapy due to tuberculosis. Overall, alcoholism and late presentation both contributed substantially to the mortality in this cohort. active case finding can reduce tuberculosis mortality rate by earlier case detection and treatment. 

Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis; Risk factor; Mortality; Cause of death.

Background: Estimation of time of death is one of the important concerns in autopsy practice. Utility of postmortem autolytic changes occurring in the tissues and tissue fluid for estimation of postmortem interval had been evaluated by number of researchers with varied success. Aim: The purpose of present preliminary study was to analyze morphological changes in salivary glands and to identify morphological parameters that could help in determining the time of death. Material and method: The study consists of 20 human  cadaver comprising 14 male and 6 females and their age ranged from 19 years to 42 years. At autopsy, submandibular salivary glands were collected from the submandibular area through the longitudinal midline incision and subjected for light microscopy. Result: The results of present study show that the submandibular salivary glands undergo variable morphological changes in the postmortem period and these cellular changes can be observed by light microscopy. Conclusion: Currently there is very limited scientific information available regarding the postmortem autolytic process of salivary glands. Further studies involving cold environ mental condition may be productive as it was noticed that mucous acini offer greater resistance for autolysis than serous acini and duct cells. 

Keywords: Autopsy; Death; Post-mortem interval; Time since death; Salivary gland.