Current trend of poisoning--a hospital profile.

A one-year study was carried out among the poisoning cases admitted in the emergency wing of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital attached to Government Medical College, Amritsar during the period from 10-5-1997 to 9-5-1998. Out of 10,664 admitt emergencies, 3.19% were poisoning cases. Male to female ratio was nearly 3:1. Majority (45.59%) of the victims were in the age group of 21-30 years, 69.12% were married and 51.47% belonged to urban area. At the time of admission 61.47% cases were conscious, 26.17% were partially conscious and 12.36% were unconscious. Majority (76.47%) of the victims committed suicide, in 20.88% cases manner of death was accident and homicide was reported in 1.76% cases. Commones poison was aluminium phosphide (38.23%) followed by organophosphorus compounds (17.64%). The study observed increasing trend of suicide by aluminium phosphide and organophosphorus compounds, whereas other poisons for committing suicide were less commonly used.

Cost of medical treatment triggering homicide on attempted suicide.

Modern science has opened lot of venues to save the precious lives. The media is responsible for wide spread acquaintance of these developments even to the economically down trodden. These highly advanced methods of intensive care are definitely very costly are beyond the reach of even a middle class family but this notion do not immediately restrict anybody from obtaining such kind of aids.

Conversion to hijrah (EUNUCH) is it need based or a crime.

Young boys were allegedly kidnapped and kept under illegal custody for months together. After demoralization had set in due to prolonged confinement, surgery was done on their private parts and female hormones were given to the persons. The converted person were made to wear female garments and performed in groups as a female dancers and earned money while in captivity. After a few years the person approached the police that this heinous crime had been done against their will.