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.

Polynomial regression model to estimate time since death in adults from rectal temperature in Chandigarh zone of Northwest India.

Estimation of time since death from rectal cooling with the help of polynomial regression model is the subject of discussion in the present study. Though in literature various models are available but their complex modeling structure and calculation, restricted their application for real life situations, particularly in climatic conditions where the room temperature varies between 60.33o to 91.97 o F like of Chandigarh zone of India. The present study is an attempt to provide a suitable model for estimation of time since death in such conditions. Nonetheless, with the help of polynomial regression model, time since death can be estimated with SE estimate of 0.12947 hours and 0.410277 hours in summer and winter respectively. Moreover, this model has produced smaller confidence and prediction intervals.

Weights of human organs at autopsy in Chandigarh zone of north-west India.

Mean organ weights in 2025 subjects who died and autopsied at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh revealed that they in general were heavier than reported from other parts of India. Various organs continued to attain their maximum weight up to 40-50 years of age.