jiafm, 2010-32(2) april-june. - forensic medicine

J Indian Acad Forensic Med, 32(2) ISSN 0971-0973Review ArticleThe Medico-Legal Autopsy -It‟s Religious and Social Attitudes*Dr. Putul MahantaAbstractAn autopsy is a post-mortem assessment or examination of a body. It is performed by a physician trained inthe specialty and authorized by law. The approach of the forensic pathologist to the investigation of a death isdifferent from that of the hospital pathologist. Several health care areas are dependent on people's willingness todispose of their body or parts thereof after death, and the issue of procedures involving corpse‟s entails importantand, to some extent, growing problems. At this time there were still strong religious and social objections to theautopsy.There are also difficulties in providing corpses for anatomy education. The reasons behind these problemsare probably manifold; some would be connected with the attitudes of people in general. This short review paperdescribe briefly only of its practical aspect of medicolegal autopsy with a brief historical review on its “Religiousand Social Attitudes”.Key Words: Medicolegal Autopsy, Hospital Autopsy, Social AttitudesIntroduction:An autopsy can be described as theexamination of a deceased human body with adetailed exam of the person's remains. This proceduredates back to the Roman era when few humandissections were performed; autopsies were utilized,however, to determine the cause of death in criminalcases.Though necropsy is the most accurate termfor the investigative dissection of a dead body, theterm autopsy is used more commonly. Post mortemexamination is an alternative expression, but itunfortunately suffers from a lack of precision aboutthe extent of examination, for in some countriesmany bodies are disposed of after externalexamination without dissection [1].Every case the autopsy must be complete, allthe body cavities should be opened, and every organmust be examined, because evidence contributory tothe cause of death may be found in more than oneorgan.Corresponding Author*Assistant ProfessorOfficial: Department of Forensic Medicine andToxicology, Gauhati Medical College and hospital,Guwahati, Assam, India.Residential: House No.1: Karmabir Bordoloi Path,Wireless, Dispur,Guwahati-781006, Assam, India.Ph. No.: 00913612222108(R), 00919864082046 (M)E-mails:drputulmahanta@yahoo.com,drpmahanta@gmail.comIn Partial autopsies have no place in forensicpathologic practice. A complete autopsy is necessaryto substantiate the truth of the evidence ofeyewitnesses. A poor autopsy is worse than noautopsy at all, as it is more likely to lead to amiscarriage of justice [2].Medico-legal Autopsy:Autopsy is only one part of deathinvestigation. Body, History and Scene are equallyimportant (diagnostic triangle). Each of the threeaspects of the death investigation process is equallyimportant (like a three legged tool, which will fallover if one leg is removed or even shortened!).1. Scene• Attendance by police officers, police surgeon,forensic pathologist etc.• The aim is to collect the maximum informationwith the minimum disturbance.• Potential for professional conflicts.• Photography, videos, collection of traceevidences is to done when necessary.2. History:• Social - from relatives, friends, police.• Medical - from GP, hospital notes. Oftenindicates the likely cause of death.• Psychiatric - from GP, hospital notes which mayhelp in ascertaining the possibility of suicide.3. The medico-legal autopsy: It is differs fromthe hospital autopsy in two major respects:• Purpose: - What happened? To Who, When,Where, Why, and How.• Technique: - The external examination assumesmuch greater importance, special dissectiontechniques and examinations, evidentialmaterials, report formulation or commentary.183