Natural deaths in custody A 10 year mortality study.

Death in custody is usually associated with apprehension and community concern, and raises the suspicion of violation of human rights. Studies conducted in few countries have shown that people in custody have increased rate of morbidity and mortality than those not in custody. Many of these deaths are premature deaths and can be prevented with proper care and treatment. The present postmortem examination based retrospective study was undertaken to examine natural deaths in custody and provide mortality pattern in this population. A total 165 autopsies were performed during the 10 year period out of which 142 (86.06%) cases were of natural deaths. The study population consists of 138 (97.18%) males and 4 (2.81%) females and their age ranged from 21 to 78 years (mean age 46.80 years). It was noted that most common cause of death was diseases of the respiratory system (40.8%) followed by cardiovascular system (19.01%).

Custodial deaths: An overview of the prevailing healthcare scenario.

Preventing torture in custody and ensuring strict compliance of its guidelines in custodial deaths is one of the important agenda on the NHRC’s list. Sudden and unexpected death in custody is commonly associated with allegations of torture against law enforcement agencies. Delay in providing basic medical care is one of the commonest allegations by the relatives against jail authorities. In this study we analysed the pattern of custodial deaths that had been brought to the mortuary at PGIMER, Chandigarh for medico legal autopsy and have suggested few preventive measures to reduce the morbidity as well as mortality among prisoners. Ninety custodial deaths that occurred while undergoing treatment in PGIMER, Chandigarh in the last decade were analysed, based on various factors such as age, sex, treatment protocol, etc. Of these, 95% were males and 5% were females; Sixty three percent cases were reported from the Punjab zone, 27% from Haryana, 7% from Chandigarh, 2% from Uttar Pradesh and 1% from Himachal Pradesh. Eighty nine percent deaths were attributed to natural causes, while 11% cases were due to unnatural causes, mostly suicides.