ABSTRACT
Forensic medicine experts have to evaluate age in different medico legal situations. The study of epiphyseal union of bones is considered a reasonable scientific and accepted method for estimation of age by the courts of law all over the world. Most of the data generated till now was based on the routine X-ray methods and not using digital X-Ray method. The present study was carried out on 150 persons of age group between 17-21 years by using digital X-ray method in the Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology at Govt. Medical College & New Civil Hospital, Surat.The present study possibly may generate the data giving shorter age intervals of fusion of centers of iliac crest (as compared to the standard text books or on the other end, may even positively reconfirm the evidential value of current data by using modern technique of digital X-ray. This study will also study the effect of nutritional status, socio-economic condition, type of work, height, weight of the person on fusion of iliac crest.
ABSTRACT
Sexual assault on female subjects is a global health & human right issue. The problem has legal as well health related bearing. Female victims, often young girls are the worst sufferers of crime like rape, kidnapping and trafficking etc... To prove this type of crime, age estimation is most important. The ages of relevance to criminal liability ranges between 14 and 18 years in most countries. In the present study 141 cases were studied for age estimation in cases of victims of sexual assault cases at Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Surat. In accordance with the updated recommendations for age estimation, a physical examination with determination of anthropometric measures, inspection of signs of sexual maturation, dental examination and X- ray examination were carried out. Surprisingly we found that appearance and fusion of ossification centers and 3rd molar eruption were occurred in few cases at earlier age as contrary to that mentioned in standard literatures.