Is there any necessity of preservation of viscera even in cases where cause of death is already determined: A discussion.

During autopsy different viscerae are collected and preserved mainly for chemical examination to ascertain the cause of death. But many a times viscerae is preserved even in cases where cause of death is known. Police and prosecution side often question the merit of preservation of viscerae in such cases because defence lawyer often take this as opportunity to delay the prosecution till the Chemical Examiner’s report is available. Most of the time Chemical Examiner’s report is much delayed and sometimes West Bengal State Forensic Science Laboratory even refuse to accept the viscerae for chemical examination particularly where cause of death is given in P.M.report. In N.R.S. Medical College, Kolkata center around 3500 post mortem examinations are being done annually, on requisitions from Kolkata Police [K.P.], West Bengal Police [WBP] and General Railway Police (GRPS). Kolkata Police in almost all their requisitions request to preserve viscera and other medicolegal articles. An analysis was done on police requisition paper and autopsy report to find out the logical scientific solution.

Role of chemical examination in formation of opinion as to cause of death following poisoning.

Barring some corrosive poison very few poisons leaves any conclusive evidence in the body to be detected after death. Identification of poison and its concentration is essential to form a definite opinion as to cause of death from poisoning. On long storage there is a chance of production of alcohol as decomposition artifact. Poison detected only in stomach and Intestine may be post mortem introduction of poison. Study of chemical examiner’s report from West Bengal State Forensic Science Laboratory reveals the deficiencies in reports and difficulties in formation of opinion as to cause of death from poisoning.