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Autopsy

An autopsy, or post-mortem examination, is a systematic examination of a deceased body to determine the cause and nature of death, particularly in unnatural or suspicious cases. It must be conducted by a registered medical practitioner under specific rules, including timely execution, proper documentation, and thorough examination of the body. The findings are crucial for legal and medical purposes, including identifying the deceased and collecting evidence related to the cause of death.

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27 views2 pages

Autopsy

An autopsy, or post-mortem examination, is a systematic examination of a deceased body to determine the cause and nature of death, particularly in unnatural or suspicious cases. It must be conducted by a registered medical practitioner under specific rules, including timely execution, proper documentation, and thorough examination of the body. The findings are crucial for legal and medical purposes, including identifying the deceased and collecting evidence related to the cause of death.

Uploaded by

khushigadhiya04
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

AUTOPSY

Definition:- Autopsy or Post Mortem Examination refers to the systemic


examination of a dead body for medical, legal and scientific purpose or to find
out the cause of death in unnatural or suspicious death. It is investigative
dissection of the dead body which is done by the doctor externally & internally to
find out the cause of death.

Purpose/objective of Autopsy:-

• To know cause of death natural/unnatural.

• To find out nature of death. (Suicidal, Homicidal, Accidental).

• To estimate time since death.

• To establish identity of deceased when not known.

• To find out time of death, mode of death, age of injuries. And place of death.

• To find out manner of death.

• To collect evidences to identify the object causing death and to identify the
criminal.

•To retain relevant organ/viscera's as a evidence.

• In newborn infants to determine the issues of live birth and viability.

• In case of mutilated bodies to determine they belong to one or more person,


approximate cause and time of death if they are human skeletal remains.

Rules for conducting medicolegal Postmortem Examinations


•It should conducted by registered medical practitioner only.

•It should be performed as soon as possible after the requisition without undue
delay.

•Autopsy should be conducted in a place specially designed for the purpose of


postmortem (Mortuary )at earliest.

•The dead body should be accompanied by dead body challan( requisition or


official order submitted to doctor by investigating officer which contains all
details of dead body) and an inquest report.
• Autopsy should be done in daylight because color changes such as jaundice,
changes in contusion /bruises and post mortem staining / post mortem Lividity,
etc. cannot be appreciated in artificial light.

• Every organ must be examined carefully.

• If the body received as mortuary it is preserved at 4°c.

• A police officer or any authorized person and 2 relatives should identify the
body in front of autopsy.

• All findings should be recorded and nothing should be erased, as it is essential


to preserve chain of evidence.

• Autopsy is conducted by two doctors, when death of female due to suspicious


reasons has occurred within 7 years of marriage.

• A panel of doctors is also constituted in case of custodial deaths, and death in


operation table.

• After completion of autopsy, the body is stitched., washed and restored to the
best possible cosmetic appearance and then handed over to the constable.

• Autopsy should be conducted in a place specially designed for the purpose of


postmortem (Mortuary ).

• In case death occurring in custody, video recording, video film/tape/CD/DVD'


SD card should be sent to Chairman, National Human Right Commission, new
Delhi by the doctor himself.

• If it is possible visit to scene of crime. It is beneficial and fruitful in certain


cases, such as murder, poisoning, etc. it may provide evidence or clues to the
nature and circumstances of crime.

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