Access of high technology based medical diagnostic tool to convicted prisoners lodged in a typically large indian jail: CT scan as case study.

Computed tomography scan of whole body or part of the body is an excellent tool that has elbowed out other radiological procedures demoting their diagnostic importance. However, it is costly to install and operate successfully following the prescribed procedure of equipment maintenance, overhaul and replacement of depleted parts. Keeping this in view, this exercise was contemplated to find out if convicted prisoners lodged in jail are being discriminated at any time by denying CT scan against medical advice. A typically large Indian jail was selected because it would be reflective of similar conditions prevailing in other jails. It was found that although the prescription rate of CT scan was less in prison inmates as compared with the general population, no element of discriminatory nature or prejudice could be detected. Search on internet and other related journals yielded no result on this topic. Hence it was felt that a beginning should be made. In future large sample studies could be taken up for an authoritative work. Such a work would serve the requirement of the government for enacting policies as well as create awareness among the penitentiary officers.

Burns during pregnancy: a socio-cultural disease.

Burns during pregnancy poses a serious threat to the life of baby, as well as to the mother. More severely it is associated with various social and economical problems, as well as associated with illiteracy and poverty which many cases complicate its prevention. Burns during pregnancy influence maternal as well as foetal outcome. Keeping this in view a comprehensive task was undertaken to assess the maternal and foetal outcome in relation to burn extent and gestational age of foetus. A total of thirty two cases of burn females with pregnancy were analyzed. There were 23 maternal and 26 foetal deaths. Percentage of abortion during the third trimester was highest. Rate of maternal mortality increased with percentage of Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burnt. Maximum incidence of maternal mortality rate was with cases of burns involving more than 50% TBSA.

Thermal burn: An epidemiological prospective study.

Fire was perhaps, man’s first double-edged sword, for throughout history, it has served as well destroyed mankind.¹ Burns have tremendous medicolegal importance as they may be considered to be the commonest cause of unnatural death in India. Often, the circumstances of burns are enveloped in mystery, obscurity and unreliable statements. The reason behind this action may be personal, domestic, occupational or social tragedy, and more recently dowry death.² The district of Aligarh is situated in the mid of Doab – the land between the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers, at a distance of 130 km southeast of Delhi-Howarh rail route and Grand Trunk Road. The latitude is 27º 54’ N and longitude is 78º 05’ E. The population of Aligarh is 3 million (657 people/km). Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital attracts mainly rural patients from 1706 villages and 6 tehsils in and around Aligarh. This prospective study was carried out on victims admitted to Burn Unit, Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. The objective was to analyze the epidemiological features, etiological factors and mortality of burn victims admitted to the unit.