Exhumation: A 10-year retrospective study.

Exhumation is done for number of reason and includes establishment of identity, to know cause and manner of death, belated suspicion of an unnatural death or for medical insurance problems. It is infrequently done in India and due to cultural practice of cremation by burning to ashes the data are lacking. Compared with conventional autopsy done immediately after death, exhumation poses many problems. The present study was aimed to collect data regarding exhumation, to collect morphological findings in comparison with maximum postmortem interval and to analyze them in an attempt to formulate “catalogue of expectation” to supplement the published literature. Total 24 forensic exhumations performed at three centers of this region from 1999 to 2008 were evaluated retrospectively. Total 24 cases were analyzed and amongst them 12 were men and 12 were women and their age ranged from 3 years to 75 years (mean age 26.95). In the present series, the cause of death at exhumation could be clearly determined in 16 cases (66.6%). Amongst others, the burial practice and postmortem interval are major determining factors for possible outcome at exhumation.

Natural deaths in custody A 10 year mortality study.

Death in custody is usually associated with apprehension and community concern, and raises the suspicion of violation of human rights. Studies conducted in few countries have shown that people in custody have increased rate of morbidity and mortality than those not in custody. Many of these deaths are premature deaths and can be prevented with proper care and treatment. The present postmortem examination based retrospective study was undertaken to examine natural deaths in custody and provide mortality pattern in this population. A total 165 autopsies were performed during the 10 year period out of which 142 (86.06%) cases were of natural deaths. The study population consists of 138 (97.18%) males and 4 (2.81%) females and their age ranged from 21 to 78 years (mean age 46.80 years). It was noted that most common cause of death was diseases of the respiratory system (40.8%) followed by cardiovascular system (19.01%).