Clinico-pathological profile in deaths due to burns.

Burn injuries occur universally and have plagued mankind since antiquity till the present day. Burns represent an extremely stressful experience for both the burn victims as well as their families. An extensive burn profoundly affects the patient's physique, psyche, financial situation and family. Patients with extensive burns frequently die, and for those with lesser injury, physical recovery is slow and painful. In addition to their dramatic physical effects, burn injuries frequently cause deleterious psychological complications. In all societies including developed or developing countries, burns constitute, a medical and psychological problem, but also have severe economic and social consequences not only to them, but also to their family and society ingeneral.24% cases were not hospitalized. 40% cases died within 24 hours of sustaining burns. 38% cases were unconscious before death. 66% cases had given dying declaration Mechanical injuries were present in 10% cases. 84% cases of total cases were alleged cases of accident. The major cause of death was Septicemic shock in 56% cases.

A two-year burns fatality study.

A severe burn injury is the most devastating injury a person can sustain and yet hope to survive. It is a common catastrophe today as burn injury cases are one of the common emergencies admitted to any hospital. There are several social, economic, cultural and psychological factors interplaying which influence the reporting, treatment, management and if the patient dies the further investigations. As the etiological factors of burn injuries vary considerably in different communities, careful analysis of the epidemiological features in every community is needed before a sound prevention programme can be planned and implemented. When stratified by age, more females were found in most age groups. Most burns were domestic, with cooking being the most prevalent activity. The maximum incidence of burn injuries in males were noted in the age group of 21-30 years. 56% cases who suffered burns were housewives.26% females had 91-100% burns. Smell of kerosene was present in 4% cases. Maximum burns were of 3rd degree with 28% males and 54% females. Head & neck were involved in 94% cases Extremities were involved in all cases.

Dilemma for autopsy surgeon.

Postmortem artifacts are commonly encountered problems in routine. They had to wrong interpretation in number of cases especially at the hands of an inexperienced autopsy surgeon and hence may mislead the course of justice. So it is suggested that all the doctors concerned with medicolegal work, especially autopsies, should be well versed with these artifacts. Then only our opinion will be conclusive and aid in the administration of justice.

A review of pedestrian traffic fatalities.

Pedestrians injured in automobile accidents constitute one of the most frequent serious problems in management for emergency room surgeons. The incidence of deaths in pedestrians is significantly higher than in other road users. This study attempted to analyse the pattern of injuries sustained by 129 pedestrians in road traffic accidents. It was found that the pedestrians were the commonest group of victims involved in fatal road accidents comprising 28.7% of all cases. 83.7% cases were males. There were two peaks of incidence in relation to age; one at childhood (20.9%) and the other in elderly (19.37%). Cars and heavy vehicles were the commonest offending agents comprising 41.9% and 31.8% respectively. The pedestrians themselves were at fault in 43.4% cases. Head injury was seen in 80% cases; followed by lower limb fractures (42.6%), and chest injury (38.8%). The cause of death was head injury in 56.6% cases followed by thoraco-abdominal injuries in 8.5% cases and multiple injuries in 7.8% cases.

Current scenario of forensic medicine in India.

The subject of Forensic Medicine provides solutions to some of the most urgent concerns in our society, and focuses on the areas in which medicine and human behaviour interface with the law and acts as a clinical investigator providing a vital liaison between the investigative process and court of law. Till date, no importance has been given for the upliftment of this subject. At many places, the department remains on the most dirtiest and neglected part of the college. In this paper, some problems are highlighted and suggestions have been given for saving the future of this important subject in our country.

Conversion to hijrah (EUNUCH) is it need based or a crime.

Young boys were allegedly kidnapped and kept under illegal custody for months together. After demoralization had set in due to prolonged confinement, surgery was done on their private parts and female hormones were given to the persons. The converted person were made to wear female garments and performed in groups as a female dancers and earned money while in captivity. After a few years the person approached the police that this heinous crime had been done against their will.