Abstract

Background: Legal medicine, or medical jurisprudence, integrates medicine and law, addressing forensic investigations, malpractice evaluations, and health-related legal issues. Globally, it encompasses subfields like forensic pathology, toxicology, and medical ethics. Technological advancements, including DNA profiling and digital forensics, have expanded its scope. In India, the field blends traditional practices with modern innovations, yet challenges like inadequate infrastructure and limited region-specific research persist. Aim: To analyze emerging trends in global legal medicine, with a special focus on Indian research output from 2000 to 2023. Objectives 1. Assess publication trends and thematic focus in Indian legal medicine research. 2. Identify leading institutions and their contributions. 3. Evaluate citation impact to understand research influence. 4. Explore gaps and potential future directions. Methods: A bibliometric study using data from the Web of Science Core Collection (2000–2023). The dataset was analyzed using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny for trends in publications, author networks, and thematic focus. Results: Indian legal medicine research saw a consistent rise post-2013, with dominant themes in forensic techniques (35%), medico-legal practices (25%), and emerging technologies (15%). Highly cited works centered on forensic toxicology and medico-legal ethics. The research corpus achieved an h-index of 30, highlighting moderate global impact. Conclusion: While advancements in forensic techniques and emerging technologies are notable, gaps in region-specific research and global collaborations remain. Addressing these challenges can enhance the field’s impact.

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