Indian Journal of Legal Medicine

Women have historically battled for their standing and rights in society. They have been fighting for equality for a long time in order to lead lifestyles that are exactly like those of men. Even after independence, they are still at odds. In the current context, a lot of women continue to struggle with these problems. In Indian culture, women are regarded as goddesses. But the challenges they face only serve to illustrate the opposite of this notion. People treat them cruelly and hold less respect for women, yet on the one hand, they revere them as goddesses. It is common for women to experience marginalization and exclusion due to sociocultural, socioeconomic, and political factors. Social structures and patriarchal norms ultimately control the process of empowerment and resource access. Deprivation of the fundamental legal right to engage in socioeconomic activities; prohibitions on working outside the home; lack of education and skills; incorrect interpretations and realizations of personal restrictions; shame related to women's sexual orientation; and household chores. From ancient times to the present, women's roles have had various ups and downs. Many factors, including economic dependence, caste restrictions, religious prohibitions, lack of leadership abilities, male-dominated society, dowry practices, trafficking in girls, prostitution, domestic violence, and sexual harassment, continue to contribute to women's dissatisfaction with their participation in society today. The paper will explore the plight of women in the society and within the household. Various policies and Government schemes will also be discussed in this paper.

Background: Motorised two wheeler accidents cause a great deal of morbidity and mortality. The demographics of the same including the factors involved helps to identify the risks involved. This can help in policy making in order to save lives. Methods: A study was conducted during the period 2011 to 2013 after obtaining ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee. The demographics of driver and pillion riders involved in fatal cases of motorised two wheelers were collected in a prospective autopsy based study in the Department of Forensic Medicine. The data collected included incidence rate of two wheeler accidents compared to total number of road traffic accidents, sex ratio, age pattern, day wise distribution, time of occurrence and vehicles collided. Conclusion: Out of a total number of 84 autopsies on road traffic accident cases, 37 cases were that of two wheeler accidents. Male predominance pattern was seen in drivers and pillion riders. Drivers were more affected. Age wise the highest number was in the range of 21 to 30 years. Day wise drivers were more affected on Saturday and pillion rider on Monday. Time wise majority of cases were during 12pm to 8pm duration. Vehicles with gear had more incidence. Majority of fatalities occurred on the spot. Most of the vehicles collided with heavy vehicles.

Mortality audit, also known as death review, is a systemic process that documents the causes of death and factors that contributed to it. Conducted by a medical audit committee and recommended by Quality Council of India, this review aligns with standards set by NABH and JCI. It scrutinizes deaths occurring in Operation Theatres, addressing issues on criminal negligence under the Consumer Protection Act. The audit investigates therapeutic misadventures, surgical errors, and deficiencies in surgery, involving Healthcare Providers (HCPs). It also examines anesthetic toxicity, overdoses, anaphylaxis, and other critical factors. Through verbal autopsies and postmortem analyses of the critical facts, the process aims to identify lapses and improve future medical practices, ensuring higher quality care and patient safety.

A landmark judgment by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Bar of Indian Lawyers vs. D.K. Gandhi (2024) has illuminated the medicolegal dilemmas faced by health care providers under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). This paper critically examines the judiciary's interpretation that professions, including medical and legal, are excluded from the scope of the CPA 2019. The legal analysis with critical eyes and juristic approach, reveals that the Act, intended to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices, does not encompass the services rendered by professionals whose work is grounded in specialized knowledge and skill. The judgment underscores the necessity for judicial interpretation in clarifying legislative intent, emphasizing that professionals should not be categorized alongside traders and businessmen. This exclusion reflects a deliberate legislative choice, aiming to distinguish the unique nature of professional services from commercial transactions. The paper further explores the implications of this ruling for health care providers, advocating for a procedural strategy to raise preliminary objections against complaints filed under the CPA 2019. Ultimately, this judgment serves as a definitive guide, reinforcing the specialized regulatory frameworks governing professional conduct and ensuring that medical professionals are rightly excluded from the consumer protection ambit.

An orphan disease is characterized by its rarity, leading to a lack of interest from pharmaceutical industries and medical researchers due to limited financial viability. Consequently, the etiopathology and causative agents of such diseases remain unidentified, and specific drug therapies are unavailable. Treatment relies on the clinical experience and intuition of individual physicians, with no standardized protocol or sufficient patient data for validation. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is one such orphan disease, with an incidence of 1 to 1.5 per million. It often results from severe hypersensitivity reactions to drugs or infections, causing the immune system to destroy the epidermal layer, leading to multiorgan failure and a high mortality rate. This case highlights the complexities and controversies in managing TEN. Despite numerous specialists' involvement, her treatment led to a legal battle, culminating in a significant compensation award due to alleged medical negligence.