Death during surgery on the operation table as well as the Death in Legal custody, is a   profoundly serious event with extensive ramifications. Both are seen with suspicion of  negligence at some level and require audit & introspection and in some cases police investigation. Comprehensive guidelines to reduce such instances and proper handling of the situation when  it occurs have been prepared. Such preventive strategies and their proper compliance will be  useful in mitigating avoidable suffering and miscarriage of justice.