Challenges faced in handling the medico-legal cases in a selected teaching hospital

Background: Doctor comes across certain ‘Medico-Legal’ problems at one time or the other during the practice of his/her profession. Reporting a medico legal case (MLC) is one of the legal responsibilities of all doctors to ensure that immediate action is taken by the police and maximum evidence is collected by them. This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and attitude of the staff in dealing medico-legal case in tertiary care hospital and to find the challenges faced by them while handling the medico-legal cases.Methods: A cross sectional Study was conducted at Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, Mangalore among the Staff working in Accident and Emergency Department during the study period of 6 months.Results: The study was conducted among 116 study participants, most 108 (93.1%) were in the age group of 20-29 years and 77 (66.4%) were females. It was seen that only 3 (2.6%) of them correctly answered 17-20 questions out of 20 questions that were asked. Knowledge regarding MLC case was much high among CMO compared to others which was statistically significant with p value <0.0001. Challenges faced by the study participants were patients or the patient party not willing for MLC, delayed treatment due to the confusion, answering the court, handling the police and the violent public in few cases.Conclusions: Knowledge on dealing with MLC and a proper counseling session for patients of MLC cases can help to overcome various challenges faced while dealing with any MLC case.

Trends of maxillofacial trauma at Tertiary Care Hospital in rural area of southern Punjab.

A four years retrospective study from was conducted to analyze the pattern and magnitude of maxillofacial trauma in medico-legal cases coming to the casualty of a rural hospital of Punjab. The study revealed that out of 1237 medico-legal cases 130 (10.5%) suffered maxillofacial trauma. The commonest age group prone to maxillofacial injury was between 16-30 years. Male preponderance was quiet evident (6:1). The commonest cause of such injuries was road traffic accident including 83.1% of the total cases. Soft tissue was the most common type of maxillofacial trauma (52.3%). Most common bones involved were nasal bone and mandible (18.5% each) and the commonest associated injury was involvement of limbs (30.0%). Most common weapon involved was blunt (90.8%). Drawing public attention and awareness towards the traffic rules especially use of helmets by the motorcyclists and separation of pedestrians from motor vehicles could possibly reduce the number of maxillofacial trauma cases.

Trends of Maxillofacial Trauma at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.

A four years retrospective study from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011, was conducted to analyze the pattern and magnitude of maxillofacial trauma in medico-legal cases coming to the casualty of Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, a rural area of Punjab. The study revealed that out of 1237 medico-legal cases 130 (10.5%) suffered maxillofacial trauma. The commonest age group prone to maxillofacial injury was between 16-30 years. Male preponderance was quiet evident (6: 1). The commonest cause of such injuries was road traffic accident including 83.1% of the total cases. Soft tissue was the most common type of maxillofacial trauma (52.3%). Most common bones involved were nasal bone and mandible (18.5% each) and the commonest associated injury was involvement of limbs (30.0%). Most common weapon involved was blunt (90.8%). Drawing public attention and awareness towards the traffic rules especially use of helmets by the motorcyclists and separation of pedestrians from motor vehicles could possibly reduce the number of maxillofacial trauma cases.