A role of digital imaging in identification of unidentified bodies.

Unidentified and unclaimed bodies for medico-legal autopsy has shown increased trend. Relatives of unidentified bodies suffer a lot of psychological trauma and also suffer in settling insurance, inheritance and pension claims. When an unidentified body has injuries on face, then photograph of such deceased is not accepted by print or electronic media for publication as such photograph may cause distress to the viewers. This study was conducted on three cases of unidentified and unclaimed bodies brought for medico-legal autopsy with facial injuries making their photographs unfit for publication in print or electronic media. Photograph of the deceased face was taken; image was transferred to a computer and by using Adobe Photoshop software CS2 and the injuries present on face were removed. The result showed that in all the three cases we could establish the identity by digital imaging. Relatives of the deceased could identify their missing relative by photograph shown to them after removal of injuries. Later on police confirmed the identification by using other methods of establishing identity. This method can be an aid in identification of unidentified bodies presented with facial injuries.

Patterns of cause of death in unknown dead bodies a three year study in a tertiary care hospital.

Opinion about the cause of death in unknown dead bodies is a test of ability of the Forensic expert and on many occasions yields little or no results. The reasons may be inadequate/no history, disinterested Investigating officers unwilling to properly work out the case, partial/complete decomposition/destruction/mutilation of the body, etc. In such cases, identification of the body as such poses problems; rest aside the opinion regarding the cause/manner of death. The present 3 year study was undertaken to find the cause of death and the pattern of causes of death in unknown dead bodies, as well as the efforts made to establish the identity in these cases. Unidentified bodies comprised 4% of the total 1577 cases brought for postmortem examination to the department. Maximum number of cases belonged to the age group 41 -50 years, 35%. Majority of the opinions regarding the cause of death were given as cranio-cerebral damage, 30%, followed by “no definite opinion”, 28%. Viscera for chemical analysis were sent in 24%, histopathology in 8% and for both chemical analysis and histopathology, in 27% cases.