+0)26-4
Definition and History of Forensic
Medicine
DEFINITIONS King of Egypt. Some of the important landmarks
in this context are as follows:
The specialty of Forensic Medicine is known by 1. Code of Hummurabi of Babylon (2000–
various names like Forensic Medicine, Legal 1000 B.C.) is the oldest medico-legal code
Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence and State given by King of Babylon in 2200 B.C. It
Medicine, etc. Although all the names carry describes punishment for medical
different meanings they are related to each other. practitioners in case of improper treatment.
The word “Forensic” means “of court of law”. 2. Code of the Hittite (1400 B.C.) describes
Forensic Medicine is defined as application of compensation for personal injuries
medical knowledge in the administration of justice. sustained.
Medical Jurisprudence deals with the legal 3. Roman Law (451 B.C.) contained a lot of
aspects of medical practice and knowledge. It provisions related to medico-legal matters.
brings doctors in contact with laws. 4. Hippocrates (460–377 B.C.) described
State Medicine is application of medical lethality of wounds, medical ethics, sudden
knowledge in prevention of diseases. It defines the deaths, etc.
duty of a doctor in relation to notification of all
births, deaths, notifiable diseases and food Around the beginning of the Christian Era,
poisoning. It deals with the legal mandatory duties many public laws relating to public health, sexual
of medical practitioners and personnel. matters and eugenics were made in India which
are popularly known as laws of Manu.
HISTORY OF FORENSIC MEDICINE 5. Justinian Code (A.D. 529–564) described
penalties for medical practice and principles
The history of Forensic Medicine is quite old. of regulation of medical profession.
Documents related to medico-legal work have been 6. The Barbarian Statute described the role
found dating back to 4000–3999 B.C. in Egypt, of medical experts in evaluating injuries.
Sumer, Babylon, India and China. A document The first Medico-legal autopsy was conducted
dated around 3000 B.C. has been found in China by Bartolumeo De Varignana in A.D. 1302 in
that describes poison. Imhotep (2730–2900 B.C.) Bologna, Italy. Guidelines on how to conduct
is considered as the first medico-legal expert. He investigations into the cause of death was prepared
was the personal physician and Chief Justice to the in China in thirteenth century. In sixteenth century,
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4 Concise Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
the Penal Code of the Bishop of Bamberg and the of medical ethics. Sushruta Samhita written by
Caroline Code emphasised on the role of medical Sushruta in 200–300 A.D. refers to poisons, snake
evidence in court trials. The famous book on signs and treatment of poisoning. Sushruta is
Medico-legal questions, Questiones Medico-legales, considered to be the Father of Indian surgery. Unani
was written by Paolo Zacchia in 1621 in seven system of medicine was introduced in India by
volumes. He was the principal physician to Pope Mughal rulers when Ayurveda was flourishing in
Innocent X and Alexander VII. India. Coroner’s Act 1811 was introduced by British
Towards the end of the sixteenth century, in Kolkata and Mumbai and police investigations
medico-legal autopsies started becoming frequent began in India then. The first chair of professor of
at various places around the world. The first book Medical Jurisprudence was established in 1857 at
on Forensic Medicine was written in 1602 by Madras Medical College.
Fortunate Feedele, an Italian physician. Famous The Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.) came into existence
works on medico-legal scenario by Zacchia was in 1860 and Criminal Procedure Code in 1861. The
published in seventeenth century. In eighteenth Indian Medical Council Act came in 1933 and
century, professorship in legal medicine was created established the Medical Council of India at New Delhi.
in Germany. Orfila (1737–1853) was the professor The most outstanding contribution in medico-
of chemistry and legal medicine in Paris and is legal field in India was made to modern
regarded as the founder of modern toxicology. dactylography. Sir William Herschel of the Indian
Civil Service in 1858 used dactylography as a
method of identification, which was later improved
FORENSIC MEDICINE IN INDIA by Sir Francis Galton.
The modern Forensic Medicine in India was
Manusmriti (3102 B.C.) is the first treatise on various started by Dr Jaising P. Modi. For the first time in
laws written by King Manu. It prescribed code of India in 1920, he was the one who wrote a book on
conduct for society and had many medico-legal laws Forensic Medicine and toxicology. It was titled,
about marriage, punishment for rape, adultery, etc. Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology. He is called
Vedas (2000–1000 B.C.), especially the Father of Forensic Medicine in India. He
Atharvaveda, furnish details about how to cure described the Indian medico-legal experience for
wounds, poisoning and snake bites. The first Indian the first time in his book. In the last fifty years, the
book on medicine, Agnivesha Charaka Samhita specialty of Forensic Medicine has grown all over
was written by the famous physician Charaka. It India and is a part of curriculum in all medical
describes training, duties, privileges and social schools. Now, various organisations are working
status of physicians. It is considered as Indian code in this field for improvement of the specialty.
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