Association of Hand Length With Height in Medical Students Enrolled in Skims Medical College, India.

Introduction: Stature is considered as one of the important parameters for personal identification. So, Stature reconstruction is important as it provides forensic anthropological estimation of the height of a person in the living state which plays a vital role in the identification of individual remains. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of hand length with height and to show if height could be predicted using hand lengthmeasurements in students of SKIMS Medical college. Methodology: The study of the anthropometric characteristics of 100 Medical College students of ages between 18-23 years of SKIMSMedical college, beminawith no obvious deformities or previous history of trauma to the spine or hand was undertaken. The study of these medical students, males (n=50) & females (n=50) was investigated. The anthropometric characteristics of their height and hand length were measured, analysed statistically for any significant difference, and correlation between the parameters studied. Results: The results show some significant differences between the anthropometric parameters, Pearson’s correlation analysis was used and showed a strong positive correlation, which means that high X variable scores go with high Y variable scores.(R is 0.8229) and it is significant. Results from the present study show that therewas a positive correlation between height and hand length indicating that height could be predicted using hand length. Conclusion: As age groups increase the mean length of hand also increase, so there is direct relation between length of hand and age groups. Definite proportion also exists between the height and hand length in an individual at all ages, irrespective of the sex. Height of an individual is 9 times the height of hand length. Thus we can predict height from hand length when it is difficult or not possible to measure height directly.

Euthanasia revisited: The aruna shanbaug verdict.

Euthanasia and its procedure have long history of locking horns as a vexed issue with laws of countries across the world. Every human being of adult years and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with his/her own body. It is unlawful to administer treatment to an adult who is conscious and of sound mind, without his consent. In patients with Permanently Vegetative State (PVS) and no hope of improvement, the distinction between refusing life saving medical treatment (passive euthanasia) and giving lethal medication is logical, rational, and well established. It is ultimately for the Court to decide, as parens patriae, as to what is in the best interest of the patient. An erroneous decision not to terminate results in maintenance of the status quo; the possibility of subsequent developments such as advancements in medical science, the discovery of new evidence regarding the patient’s intent, changes in the law, or simply the unexpected death of the patient despite the administration of life-sustaining treatment, at least create the potential that a wrong decision will eventually be corrected or its impact mitigated.

Use of hair root sheath for barr body determination.

Determination of sex is useful in Forensic Medicine. Barr bodies can be seen hair root sheath cells. The presence of barr bodies indicates that sex of the person is female. They are inactive X chromosome. The Barr bodies are also known as sex chromatin. Hair can present in the crime scene. Hair is trace evidence. The stain used was aceto-orcein. The percentage of barr bodies was found to be 28-49 %. The study was carried out for eight months and it was found that barr bodies persisted for eight months. It can be present anywhere at the crime scene. Hair of the accused can be present in hands of victim due to cadaveric spasm. Hair of victim can be found on the clothes of the accused. There is average fall in percentage of barr bodies with the passage of time due to the start of decomposition changes in the root sheath cells.