Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Chloral hydrate has been used by criminals, doctors and in various other industries. The interest in this drug has been rekindled since it is now popularly being used as Date rape drug. Also recent studies have shown increased health risks with commercial use of chloral hydrate. This paper has been written with the aim of highlighting the analytical aspects and management of Chloral hydrate poisoning.

Keywords: Chloral Hydrate; Poisoning; Analysis; Management. 

Introduction: The development of science in various aspects of human life has evolved far more superior, sophisticated and lethal weapon of assault. The motorized transportation media like vehicles, trains, aero planes etc. with fast moving vehicular traffic, vast urbanization and changing social patterns have contributed to increase in the incidence of trauma to human body. In spite of all the advantages that motorcycles have, motorcyclists form a large proportion of those injured or killed on the roads. Sociodemographic factors play important role in deciding standard of living and safety measures available for any population group. Present study was carried out to find relation between various sociodemographic factors in head injury victims died in two wheeler accidents which will be helpful for implementation of preventive measures. Material and Methods: The present autopsy based study was conducted over a period of two years from 1st Oct 2012 to 30th Sept 2014 in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College Latur, Maharashtra, India. All autopsy cases of head injury involved in two wheeler accidents were included in the study. Detailed history was taken and postmortem examination was carried out. Head injury victims died in two wheeler accidents during study period selected and studied for its relation with various sociodemographic factors. Results: Out of total 1706 autopsies conducted by the department during study period, 95 (05.57%) cases were of death due to head injury in two wheeler accidents. Out of total 95 cases, maximum deaths i.e. 55 (47.37%) occurred between 2140 years of age group and 78 (82.1%) were males. Married victims were 73 (76.84%). Maximum victims i.e. 89 (93.68%) were literate and most of the victims i.e. 67 (70.53%) died due to accidents occurred in urban area. Victims from lower socioeconomic group were commonly involved. Not a single rider/pillion had worn helmet at the time of incidence. Conclusion: Legal code alone is unlikely to be effective in changing motorcyclist’s behaviour. There is an urgent need of public education and awareness about safety measures to be followed while driving. Guiding and implementing traffic related rules through counselling, health education, road shows, use of electronic and print media etc will have a great effect in controlling these accidents. Strict obedience of traffic rules can save the life of most of the victims.

Keywords: SocioDemographic Profile; Two Wheeler; Accidents; Head Injury. 

In the study, evaluation of information for completion of non medical variables of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) like deceased’s name, age, sex, date and time of death, doctor’s signature and date of verification etc. filled in mock death certificates was done. We also studied and assessed the awareness, skill, attitude and knowledge amongst medical professionals (MPs) in documenting MCCD completely and accurately. Name, sex and age of the deceased were correctly and completely mentioned by 77.21%, 90.48% and 89.12% physicians respectively. Exact date and time of death was reported by 87.07% and 88.10% doctors respectively. Doctor’s signature column was filled by 75.51% physicians while date of verification was mentioned by only 63.95% doctors. This study reflects inadequate knowledge, practice, training and lack of awareness about importance of MCCD; carelessness and negligence on the part of certifying doctors.

Keywords: MCCD; WHO; Death Certificate; Awareness; Attitude; Medical Professionals. 

Introduction: The number of malpractice suits against doctors is increasing in India. The medical professionals should be knowledgeable and aware of the issues and laws that govern patient care and follow the Code of Medical Ethics as laid down by the Medical Council of India. This is important as it will not only enable the highest professional standards in the practice of medicine but also help avoid legal problems. Materials & Methods: An anonymous selfadministered structured questionnaire about knowledge of Medical ethic was devised, tested, & distributed for the crosssectional survey to resident doctors of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The study was aimed at assessing the awareness of medical laws and ethics among the resident doctors. Among the one hundred twenty five distributed questionnaires 115 were returned, out of which fifteen questionnaires were incompletely filled and were not included for study, so 100 participants questionnaires were considered for the present study and analysed. Conclusion & Results: The participants were aware of various issues related to medical laws and ethics like informed consent, medical negligence, consumer protection acts, dichotomy, patient autonomy, paternalism etc. & as majority of participants agreed on questions.The participants knew the values of medical laws and ethics in medical profession.

Keywords: Medical Ethics; Resident Doctor; Code of Conduct. 

Background: Exponential increase in road traffic accident cases are a major cause of concern all over the world. The fatality of accident cases depends on various factors and alcohol consumption can also be associated to increase in incidence of road traffic accidents. Materials and Methods: An autopsy based study on victims of road traffic accidents was carried out in the department of Forensic Medicine, M.K.C.G Medical College, Berhampur, Odisha. The vitreous samples were tested qualitatively for presence of alcohol by potassium dichromate test. The stomach contents and the blood and urine sample sent to RFSL for chemical analysis. Result: A total number of 918 autopsies were done during the study period and 250 cases (27.23%) were due to road traffic accidents. 86% were males and belonged to 3140 years (23.6%). Pedestrians comprised the 51.6% of the victims. 42 % of the victims sustained fatal head injuries (42%) followed by 36.8% of cases sustaining multiple injuries.20% tested positive for qualitative estimation of vitreous alcohol. Out of 21 victims of drivers of 2/3 wheelers 15 71.43% tested positive for alcohol. Out of 50 vitreous positive cases, alcohol was detected in in blood, urine and stomach samples in 60%, 40% and 20% cases respectively. Vitreous alcohol was positive even after 12 hours. Conclusion: A significant number of victims of road traffic accidents showed positive detection of alcohol in their vitreous sample proves alcohol as one of the important factor in incidence of accidents. The vitreous sample was a better sample than blood, urine and viscera in qualitative detection of alcohol.

Keywords: Road Traffic Accidents; Vitreous Humor; Alcohol. 

A retrospective study was conducted at Swami Ramanand Teerth Government Rural Medical College, Ambajogai which is a rural based tertiary care hospital where all deaths near places were carried out for post mortem examination. The study duration was period between January 2011 December 2015. The prime objective of the study was to project the changes in methods/trends of suicides in rural marathwada region as hanging ranked as a leading method of suicide in spite of poisoning and others as well as to evaluate the magnitude of problem within the area of study and to determine the relevant factors associated with hanging cases.In the study, total 620 postmortem cases of hanging victims which were reported by and to government authority regarding deaths included in farmer’s suicide. The nature of hanging in all the cases was suicide. Males constituted 70.3% of the cases. Age wise, 55.48 % of cases fell within 2040 years. Family disputes were the most common factor cited as the reason for the act in 52.2% of cases. Most of the subjects were married (76.7%) and with relation to studies, 55.2% were educated. With regards to occupation, 41.93% cases constituted farmers. 54.8% cases hailed from rural area. As with the time of hanging, in 52.9% of the cases, the incidence happened between 12 AM – 6 AM and the place of incidence was farm house in 93.5% of cases. With the choice of ligature material, synthetic ligature material (47.74%) was the most commonly used ligature material by hanging victims. There are many similarities and differences were seen during this study.

Keywords: Hanging; Suicide; Retrospective Study.