Abstract

Background: Forensic Medicine and Toxicology is an important subject in medical curriculum as it deals mainly with legal aspects of medical practice and postmortem examination. Aim and objective: To assess Medicolegal knowledge and attitude about postmortem examination among Postgraduate residents. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire based study was conducted from June 2018 to March 2019. The questionnaire based on application of basic and clinical medicolegal knowledge of Forensic medicine and toxicology required during Postmortem Examination (Autopsy) was designed and distributed to Postgraduate residents of Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College, Ahmednagar (M.S). Their responses were collected and analyzed statistically for number and percentage. Results: Total 54 Postgraduate residents were participated in study. Postgraduate residents have passed their MBBS from different government and private Medical colleges from Maharashtra state. It was shocking to know that only 7 (13%) resident were having knowledge regarding, who have the authority to decide whether Medicolegal Autopsy should be carried out or not. It was surprising and disgusting that not a single Postgraduate residents have knowledge about which organs should be preserved for routine viscera preservation for chemical analysis. We found that only 3 (5.6%) resident were having knowledge about preservatives required for chemical analysis. Only 12 (22.2%) were aware that, death in police custody essentially requires two postmortem surgeons and videography. Conclusion: This study was an honest attempt to assess knowledge and awareness about Postmortem examination. We observed that a knowledge about Postmortem examination is very poor among the Postgraduate (PG) residents who have passed their MBBS from different government and private Medical colleges from Maharashtra state. Their knowledge should be improved by implementing Competency based curriculum.

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