Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

With increased incidence of litigations against doctors even for frivolous/ flimsy reasons, it is pertinent for a practicing doctor to be aware of basic degree of skill and care expected of him while he is fulfilling his professional obligations. In spite of this known fact doctors do error simply neglect the basic level of skill that is required of him and involve in unnecessary litigations. A case is reported where in simple error in diagnosis resulted in the death of a patient posted for elective abdominal hysterectomy.

Keywords: Negligence; hysterectomy; skill; litigation; doctor.

Background: Finger prints are considered as the best tool of identification. Digital dermatoglyphic has been found useful in forensic medicine and identification purpose. It is useful in medical diagnosis of genetically inherited diseases and in detection of crimes. Material & Method: The present study was carried out to understand the genetic relationship if any, among different blood groups using classical dermatoglyphic marker in 292 subjects. Finger print patterns were collected on a white paper using black endorsing ink. Study was done by counting and classifying their ridge pattern, configuration of arches, loops and whorls. The ridges were counted and patterns were identified using glass hand lens. Results: Majority of subjects were 33.90% in the study of blood group of O, 30.82% of blood group B, 23.63% of blood group A and 11.64% of blood group AB. The general distribution of pattern of finger print showed high frequency of loops 53.56% whereas whorls were moderate 39.48% and arches were least 6.95% in frequency, was significant (p<0.01) in all blood groups. Conclusion: The study suggests that there is an association between finger print pattern and blood groups.

Key words: Finger print, dermatoglyphic, ABO blood group, identification.

Background: There is very little documentation of Penoscrotal Trauma cases are reported worldwide. The present study was plan to study the incidences of Penoscrotal Trauma related and its related mortality in the North Bengal region. Material & Methods: the cases of Penoscrotal Trauma brought between two years (2009-10) to the General Emergency and Department of Forensic Medicine, North Bengal Medical College, was included. The details about the nature, manner etc. were recorded in pre-designed proforma. Results: The cases were classified according to their etiology into Occupational, Road Traffic, Coital Injuries, Physical Assault and Animal Attack. The Penile Fracture and frenular tear were more commonly injured during coitus. Avulsion scrotal skin, penile skin and crush injury of scrotum were mostly seen in road traffic accident, while Penile Amputation is found in cases of physical assault as well as Occupational injuries. Amongst all the type of penoscrotal injuries, majority of the victim were died due to avulsion of the scrotum. Amongst the cases admitted to hospital, no patient died when they admitted with penile fracture or frenulum tear. Number of cases comes to postmortem is more than the case admitted to the Hospital. Conclusion: Person sustained penoscrotal injuries have high mortality rate.

Key words: Penoscrotum, Penile Fracture, Penile Amputation, Penetrating Injury to Penis, Frenular Tear, Avulsion of Penile & Scrotal Skin, Penoscrotal Crush Injury.

Juvenile delinquency is a major challenge to the present society all over the world. Societal views and response towards it is changing from time to time. Reformation of the juvenile delinquents through educational and vocational training, and psychological counseling in the Remand home is one of the methods currently practiced in India. Present study on thirty inmates and thirty ex-inmates of Remand home indicated that the reformative method had some positive influence on their social life, for bringing back them to main stream of the society.

Key Words: Juvenile delinquent, Juvenile in conflict with law, Remand home, Reformation, Rehabilitation

Lord Macaulay in 1860 introduced section 377 as part of Indian Penal Code; convictions under this law have been extremely rare. The Naz foundation, an activist group, filed public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court in 2001, seeking legalization of homosexual intercourse between consenting adults. In 2003, the Delhi High Court refused to consider a petition regarding the legality of the law. In 2006 it came under criticism from 100 Indian literary figures. On12th June 2009, India’s new Law Minister agreed that Section 377 might be outdated. Eventually, in a historic judgment delivered on 2 Jul 2009, Delhi High Court overturned the 150 year old section, legalizing consensual homosexual activities between adults. Till date there have been no grounds for the fulfillment of any criteria to place homosexuality as a disease or have any claims of finding genetic markers for homosexuality been replicated either. A lot has changed and a lot needs to be changed with regards to India’s stand on homosexuality and related aspects. “Any form of consensual sexual act between ‘humans’ of appropriate age and sound mental health under adequate conditions of privacy and safety” should be considered as “natural” and legal!

Key words: Homosexuality, Unnatural Sexual Offenses, Sec 377 Indian Penal Code, Kamasutra.

Aims and objective: In this study an attempt is made to find out the correlation between foot length and total body height in Maharashtra region and to derive a regression formula for estimation of total body height from foot length. Materials and methods: The study is done on 212 medical and paramedical students from Maharashtra region. The age of the subjects ranged between 18 and 25 years. The length of the foot is measured between the back of the heel andthe tip of great toe or second toe whichever is longer using spreading calipers. Results: The results obtained were statistically analyzed and attempt was made to derive alinear regression formula between foot length and total height of an individual. The results of this study show a definite correlation between foot length and height of an individual. The data from the present work may be useful for anatomists, anthropologists, and forensic expertsduring forensic identification.

Key words: Foot length, Total height, Correlation, Regression formula, Forensic experts.

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