Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Background: An autopsy is a systematic examination of a dead body for medical, legal, or scientific purposes. A medicolegal autopsy is conducted to determine the cause, time, and manner of death, establish identity, and decide whether the death is natural or unnatural. In India, all unnatural deaths must undergo a medicolegal autopsy to ensure justice. For MBBS students, attending autopsy postings is essential for understanding real-life postmortem procedures and preparing them for future responsibilities as medical officers. However, many students hesitate to attend autopsies due to fear, misconceptions, or lack of exposure. This study aimed to assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and barriers related to medicolegal and clinical autopsies. Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate medical students’ knowledge and attitudes toward postmortem examination and their interest in forensic medicine as a career. Secondary objectives included identifying associations with demographic factors (age, gender, prior exposure) and exploring misconceptions and barriers to attending autopsy postings. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among Phase II to Phase IV MBBS students and interns at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai. A structured and validated questionnaire was administered to 205 participants. It assessed demographic details, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions regarding postmortem examination. Data were analysed descriptively. Results: Most participants were Phase II students aged 19-20 years (mean age 19.6 years). Overall knowledge was satisfactory. About 87% knew that police or Magistrate requisition and an inquest report are required before medicolegal autopsy. Around 85% understood its purpose, and 93% knew partial autopsy is not allowed. Knowledge about organ preservation was limited (51.9%). Most students were aware of proper body storage (82.4%) and virtopsy (75.9%). Regarding attitude, 69.9% supported compulsory autopsy exposure. While 78.5% were willing to handle a dead body, 60.7% were hesitant to appear in court. Interest in forensic medicine as a career was expressed by 65.4%. Conclusion: Students showed good basic knowledge and a positive attitude, but practical skills and confidence, especially regarding court duties needs improvement through increased hands-on training and mock court sessions.

Background: Poisoning remains a major public health and medico-legal problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries where toxic substances are easily accessible. The pattern of poisoning varies with geographical, occupational and socio-economic factors. Objectives: To determine the proportion of poisoning deaths among all medicolegal autopsies and to analyze the spectrum of poisons responsible for mortality at a tertiary care centre in Chikkamagaluru. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on medico-legal autopsies performed over a period of two years from January 2023 to December 2024 at a tertiary care centre in Chikkamagaluru. Autopsy records, police inquest reports and chemical analysis reports were reviewed. Cases where poisoning was established as the cause of death were analyzed, and data was expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: Out of a total of 665 medico-legal autopsies, 100 cases (15.03%) were deaths due to poisoning. Organophosphous compounds were the most common poisons implicated, followed by paraquat, pyrethroid and glyphosate. In a significant proportion of cases, the chemical analysis report was negative or inconclusive. Agricultural pesticides constituted the majority of poisoning deaths. Conclusion: Poisoning accounts for a substantial proportion of medico-legal deaths in the region with agricultural pesticides being the predominant agents

Background: Accurate age estimation in adolescents and adults remains challenging in forensic practice once dental development is complete. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables three-dimensional evaluation of skeletal structures and may improve age estimation without additional radiation exposure. Aim: To develop and internally validate a CBCT-based multivariate regression model for chronological age estimation using mandibular morphometrics and to compare its performance with a machine-learning approach. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 150 CBCT scans of individuals aged 10–70 years. Mandibles were segmented using ITK-SNAP software, and standardized three-dimensional morphometric measurements were obtained. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set (n testing set (n = 45). Pearson’s correlation analysis and stepwise multivariate linear regression were used to develop the regression model. A Random Forest regression model was trained for comparison. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Agreement between predicted and chronological age was evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Chronological age showed a strong positive correlation with the gonial angle and a strong negative correlation with the ramus height–to–body length ratio. The final regression model retained gonial angle, bicondylar width, and ramus height–to–body length ratio as significant predictors. In the testing dataset, the regression model demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy (R² = 0.881; RMSE = 6.09 years; MAE = 5.89 years), minimal bias (−0.49 years), and excellent agreement (ICC = 0.90). The Random Forest model showed reasonable performance but did not outperform the regression model. Conclusion: CBCT-derived mandibular morphometrics enable accurate, noninvasive forensic age estimation. The regressi on model demonstrated superior reliability and interpretability compared with machine-learning, supporting its clinical and medico-legal applicability.= 105) and a

The extensive use of pesticides in India, particularly in agriculturally intensive regions, has raised significant concerns regarding environmental contamination and associated human health risks. This review synthesizes recent evidence on pesticide residue occurrence in water, milk, vegetables, and soil, with special emphasis on high-risk agricultural districts of Chhattisgarh and comparable regions. Data were compiled from government databases, peer-reviewed literature, and empirical field-based analytical studies employing standardized protocols (APHA, AOAC) and advanced instrumental techniques such as GC–MS, GC– MS/MS, HPLC-PDA, AAS, ICP–MS, and HPTLC. Findings indicate widespread detection of organophosphates, organochlorines, and pyrethroids—including carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, malathion, diazinon, deltamethrin, quinalphos, and 4,4′- DDT—in environmental and food matrices. Several studies reported exceedance of acceptable daily intake (ADI) and acute reference dose (ARfD) values, particularly among children, highlighting elevated vulnerability. Health risk assessments utilizing Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) models revealed potential noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in areas proximal to pesticide application sites.These compounds exert toxicity primarily through mechanisms such as acetylcholinesterase inhibition, endocrine disruption, oxidative stress induction, and bioaccumulation, contributing to both acute and chronic health effects. Spatial analyses further demonstrated contamination hotspots near agricultural spraying zones, while seasonal variation influenced physicochemical water quality and pollutant persistence. Despite regulatory efforts, critical research gaps remain, including limited longitudinal monitoring, inadequate evaluation of cumulative and mixture toxicity, insufficient exploration of non-agricultural contamination sources, and weak implementation strategies for sustainable alternatives.The review underscores the urgent need for integrated surveillance systems, farmer education on safe pesticide handling, improved regulatory enforcement, and adoption of sustainable pest management strategies. Strengthening evidence-based policymaking is essential to safeguard environmental integrity, public health, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

Context: Snake bite is a significant health hazard in tropical regions, particularly affecting rural populations engaged in agriculture. Objectives: To evaluate the demographic profile, clinical features, and outcomes of snake bite victims treated at a tertiary care hospital in southern India. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed medical records of 51 snake bite cases admitted from September 2023 to November 2024. Data collected included age, gender, residence type, bite location, clinical features, complications, antivenom use, and patient outcomes. Statistical Analysis: Data were summarized using descriptive statistical measures including counts, proportions, mean values, and minimum–maximum distribution Results: Mean age was 35.2 years with 67% male predominance. Eighty percent were from rural areas. Pain (98%) and swelling (84.31%) were the main symptoms. Antivenom was given to 68.62% of patients. The mortality rate was 5.88%, with 94.11% patients surviving. Conclusion: Early hospital access, prompt antivenom administration, and supportive care significantly reduce snake bite mortality. Strengthening rural healthcare systems and community awareness are essential for better outcomes.

Background: Facial biometrics play a critical role in cybercrime investigations, digital identity verification, and surveillance-based forensic systems. Despite their widespread use, many artificial intelligence (AI)–driven facial recognition pipelines operate without biologically validated craniofacial feature foundations, raising concerns regarding interpretability, bias, and forensic reliability. Aim: This study aims to establish a biologically grounded framework for AI-assisted forensic facial analysis by examining the inheritance, stability, and predictability of live craniofacial anthropometric traits across three biological generations of Indian families. Methods: A total of 216 individuals from 48 Indian families spanning three generations were examined. Fourteen standardized craniofacial dimensions were recorded using calibrated vernier callipers under natural head position. Trait normalization, intergenerational comparisons, heritability estimation, transfer score analysis, and machine-learning–based predictability assessment were performed using robust statistical modeling and AI-assisted analytical techniques. Result: Craniofacial traits exhibited uneven hereditary patterns. Vertical craniofacial dimensions demonstrated greater generational resemblance, biological stability, and algorithmic predictability compared to horizontal traits. Sto-Sl, En-Ex, and ZyZy emerged as highly stable and orensically reliable craniofacial features with strong heritability and predictive performance. Conclusion: The study provides a statistically validated and biologically explainable reference framework for AI-based facial analysis in cyber and digital forensic applications. By anchoring AI models to biologically stable craniofacial traits, the findings enhance the reliability, interpretability, and forensic admissibility of facial evidence.

Adolescence is a critical phase during which experimentation with psychoactive substances often begins. Misconceptions, poor legal awareness, and peer or family influence increase vulnerability to substance use. Understanding these factors is essential for developing effective school-based prevention strategies. Context: Substance use among adolescents is an emerging public health problem in India, with early initiation leading to long-term health and social consequences. Aim: To assess awareness, misconceptions, and legal awareness regarding legal and illegal substances among school-going adolescents, and to examine their association with substance use. Setting and Design: A school-based cross-sectional study conducted among students of classes 9 and 10 from selected government and private schools. Methods and Material: Four hundred students were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected through a pretested, self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge, misconceptions, legal awareness, sources of information, and substance use. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Tuberculosis still remains a major global health problem, especially in developing countries. Death and prevalence of tuberculosis has been reported worldwide. Tuberculosis usually presents primarily as lung disease with dissemination to the intestines increasing its morbidity. But the challenging part is its vague symptoms. Sudden death following intestinal TB is rare. A case involving a 24-year-old woman was received unconscious at the emergency department with compliants of severe stomach pain and vomiting. Despite resuscitative measures, she was declared dead. The postmortem examination revealed a white, cheese-like area at the apex of her right lung. Thickened dark tissue noted over the ileocecal junction. Histopathology confirmed tuberculosis in both lungs and intestines. Intestinal obstruction was noted at the site of TB involvement. This case highlights the importance of recognizing severe forms of intestinal tuberculosis This case underlines the vital role of precise medicolegal autopsy and complete histopathological examination in identifying hidden causes of sudden death.

Background: Consent is an ethical and legal requirement in medical practice. Informed consent involves obtaining the patient’s permission and ensuring the patient’s complete understanding of the nature, purpose, risks, and alternatives of a medical procedure. In India, awareness and practice with consent among medical students and professionals vary. Aim: To assess understanding, attitudes, and practices regarding medical consent among medical students and trainees. Methodology: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among 181 practitioners and Interns with 11 questions on physicians’ perspectives on consent. Results: Awareness of various types of consent in medical practice was reported by 149 participants (82.32%). Regarding a child over 12 years of age giving valid consent for a simple examination, 36.46% agreed. In cases involving intoxicated individuals, 70.17% believed consent should be obtained from police and examination done with minimal force. About telephonic consent, 60.77% rejected it in the absence of attenders. Most participants (70.17%) supported regular CME sessions on consent and medical ethics. The majority (76.80%) agreed that proper consent and documentation prevent negligence charges. Conclusion: The study showed that while most participants have a good theoretical understanding of consent in medical practice, their knowledge of specific legal provisions and exceptional circumstances remains incomplete. The majority recognise the importance of written informed consent and documentation in preventing medical negligence, but uncertainty persists regarding consent from minors, intoxicated individuals, and consent obtained telephonically. We recommended incorporating structured teaching modules on medical ethics, consent, and medico-legal and conducting periodic Continuing Medical Education sessions.

Introduction: Anthropometry comprises various methods to estimate the dimensions of the human body. Identification of a severely decomposed or mutilated body is a big challenge to the forensic experts. Teeth are made of hard tissue which have higher durability and are relatively indestructible. Careful study of odontometric parameters will enable us in determining the stature of a person. Methodology: The present study is an Institution based Cross-sectional study done on 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females). All the individuals were in the age group of 18-25 years with complete set of fully erupted healthy teeth of proper alignment. Mesiodistal width of right upper central incisors, inter-canine distance and height of an individual are measured. Observations & Results: The results of the study showed that there is a significant association of mesiodistal width of right upper central incisor (p<0.05) with the height of the individual but there is no association of intercanine width (p>0.05) with the stature.

Background: Substance abuse among young individuals represents a growing public health concern with significant social, psychological, and medico-legal implications. The age group of 17–25 years constitutes a vulnerable transitional phase during which initiation of substance use may result in dependence, health deterioration, academic impairment, and legal consequences.¹ Aim: To determine the prevalence and patterns of substance abuse among individuals aged 17–25 years in the Chengalpattu population and to assess associated medico-legal perspectives. Methodology: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among participants aged 17–25 years residing in Chengalpattu district. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, substance use patterns, reasons for initiation, frequency of use, features suggestive of dependence, and associated behavioral and medico-legal issues were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. Results: The overall prevalence of substance use was 9.8%. Alcohol was the most commonly used substance, followed by tobacco and cannabis. A proportion of substance users exhibited features suggestive of dependence. Substance use showed associations with family-related issues, health problems, sleep deprivation, and medico-legal concerns, including exposure to violence.

Background: Women and children represent the most vulnerable groups to sexual assault, resulting in profound physical and psychological trauma. The increasing frequency of sexual offenses globally has become a serious medico-legal and public health concern. Objective: To analyse the demographic profile, social aspects, examination findings, and medico-legal trends of sexual assault cases reported to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 60 sexual assault cases reported to the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Govt.Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital. Data from medico-legal cases were analysed for age, religion, literacy, socio-economic status, marital status, place of incidence, time of reporting, relationship with assailant, and genital findings. Results were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: The majority of victims were young unmarried females (86.67%) from low socio-economic backgrounds (88.33%). Most assaults occurred at the victim’s residence (60%), with the assailant often being a neighbour (56.67%). Medical examination was conducted within 1–3 days in 70% of cases. Hymenal tears were found in 96.67% of victims, with recent tears (30%), old tears (41.67%), and carunculae myrtiformes (25%) being the major findings.

Background: Sexual violence is a major global public health and human rights issue that affects women and children in various societies. Survivors of sexual assault need immediate medical care and forensic examination, where healthcare professionals play a very crucial role. Nurses are the first point of contact in most of the health care settings to give immediate and prompt care. Nurses help to identify injuries, collect, preserve, and pack evidence, document findings and maintain chain of custody. However, limited training in forensic aspects may impact their ability to perform this task effectively. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge level regarding sexual assault examination among registered nurses and final-year nursing students Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 276 participants from hospitals and nursing colleges in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Data were collected using socio-demographic proforma and a 38 item knowledge questionnaire on sexual assault nurse examination (KQSANE). Descriptive statistics summarize knowledge levels. Spearman’s correlation and generalized linear model regression were used to explore the relationships between knowledge domains and socio-demographic variables. Results: The findings indicate that overall knowledge about sexual assault examination was inadequate, with most participants demonstrating poor knowledge. Among the knowledge areas, the legal and ethical knowledge domain received the highest scores. The domain forensic examination and imaging received the lowest scores. Significant pos itive correlation was found between the overall knowledge scores and domains of knowledge. Conclusion: The study points out significant gaps in knowledge about forensic sexual assault examination among nurses and nursing students. Improving forensic nursing education through better curriculum integration and in-service education and training is important to prepare nurses for enhancing the survivorcentered care and ensuring proper evidence management

UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) named Drones are playing significant role in the field of forensic sciences. Primarily, the utilization of these drones for crime scene investigation is served lot of forensic charm. Furthermore, its application in diverse fields of forensic sciences is efficiently yielding importance for criminal investigation. In this review an attempt has been made to portray applicability of forensic drones in various disciplines of forensic science such as photogrammetry, CSI, proactive forensics.

Vaccination is a cornerstone of preventive medicine and has significantly reduced childhood morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, rare but serious adverse events following immunization (AEFI) may occur and require meticulous evaluation. Within hours of receiving a routine vaccination, an 11-month-old male infant experienced acute gastrointestinal distress, seizures, and cardiovascular collapse. We report a suspected serious AEFI. To determine the cause of death, a comprehensive medico-legal autopsy was performed, assisted by histopathology, cytopathology, post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), and forensic laboratory investigations. The findings of the autopsy showed multisystem involvement, including widespread lymphocytic infiltration throughout several organs, pulmonary edema, and serous effusions. PMCT results, which showed characteristics suggestive of acute respiratory distress syndrome with pleural and pericardial effusions, supported the autopsy. The death was reported as a suspected serious AEFI requiring causality assessment by the AEFI surveillance committee in compliance with World Health Organization guidelines due to the close temporal association with vaccination, the exclusion of other causes of death, and the presence of pathological features suggestive of a multisystem inflammatory syndrome driven by immune dysregulation. The importance of forensic autopsy in determining systemic inflammatory reactions in unexplained post-vaccination deaths is highlighted by this case

Introduction: This autopsybased case series analyzes six fatalities resulting from pulmonary, fat, and amniotic fluid embolism, highlighting their clinical presentations, pathological features, and diagnostic challenges. Case Report: This study included six medicolegal autopsy cases in which death was attributable to embolic phenomena. The presence of antemortem thrombi, fat globules with bone marrow elements, or fetal squames was used as confirmatory evidence of pulmonary, fat, and amniotic fluid embolism, respectively. Findings were correlated with premortem symptoms for diagnosis. Pulmonary thromboembolism was identified in two adults, they developed sudden dyspnea, tachycardia, or hypotension prior to collapse, and autopsy consistently revealed firm antemortem thrombi within the pulmonary trunk or arterial branches. Fat embolism was confirmed in two males; histology demonstrated fat globules and bone marrow elements in the pulmonary arteries. Two postpartum females died suddenly after delivery and both demonstrated classic features of amniotic fluid embolism, including fetal squames and microthrombi within pulmonary vessels. Conclusion: Across all patients, mechanisms of death included massive pulmonary arterial obstruction, hypoxia, rightheart strain, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Amniotic fluid embolism and fat embolism typically manifest with nonspecific signs and sudden deterioration, limiting laboratory-based diagnosis during life. Thus, autopsybased histopathology continues to serve as the definitive diagnostic method for amniotic fluid embolism and fat embolism. Improved early recognition, appropriate thromboprophylaxis, timely stabilization of fractures, and rapid multidisciplinary management in obstetric emergencies are essential to reduce mortality and medicolegal burden associated with these embolic syndromes.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a leading global cause of adult-onset epilepsy and the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. It is caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, which encysts in the brain after the ingestion of eggs. While often presenting with chronic symptoms, NCC can lead to sudden, unexpected death through acute neurological or cardiac complications. Forensic awareness and a high index of suspicion are critical for identifying subclinical infections in at-risk populations. This case is based on a 43-year-old male who had multiple episodes of seizure for which he was brought to a tertiary care hospital, where he was declared brought dead. This case highlights the significance of conducting a comprehensive medicolegal death investigation, which involves interviews with relatives and a complete forensic autopsy to establish the cause and manner of death

Introduction: Leading causes for mortality and morbidity among young, productive group of population is thoraco abdominal trauma brought on by traffic accidents. Most basic use of injury severity grading is probably in predicting period of survival following trauma. Aim: Study’s aim is to analyze correlation between survival period & new injury severity score. Materials and methods: 105 Road traffic accident autopsy cases involving thoracoabdominal injuries brought to morgue of Belagavi Civil Hospital and Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital were taken for study. Universal sampling method was used for calculating sample size. Results: The new injury severity score (NISS) was 51-75 in total 65 (61.9%) cases. When age group of 21-40 years was evaluated NISS was 51-75 in about 34 cases. When the period of survival was less than 2 hrs NISS was 51-75 in 28 cases, when period of survival was 2-6 hours NISS was 51-75 in 20 cases. However when period of survival was more than 1 week NISS score was 0-25. Conclusion: Injury severity score had very high negative correlation with period of survival that means victims who had very high injury ISS had very less survival period. Highlights: Trauma scores help in determining quality of treatment and thereby reducing mortality. Study’s aim is to analyze correlation between survival period & new injury severity score. Study’s conclusions and outcomes will help shape policies and actions to reduce death rates and morbidity rates from injuries to the abdomen and thorax.