Medicolegal aspect of burn victims: a ten years study

ABSTRACT

To see the prevalence and nature of medico-legal burns among patients. It is a retrospective observational study conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from April 1999 to April 2008. All patients of more then ten years of age, irrespective of sex with burn injuries were included in the study. One hundred seventy eight patients were studied and among them one hundred forty six [82.02%] were accidental burns with more prevalence among females [81.50%]. Twenty three [12.92%] patients were having homicidal burns and all were females while nine [5.06%] patients sustained suicidal burns and among them six [66.66%] were females. Majority of patients i.e. one hundred six were from 2nd and 3rd decade of life. Among homicidal injuries twenty one [65.62%] were from flame and two [6.26%] from acid. All suicidal patients sustained flame burns. Females are more commonly involved [66.66%] as compared to males [33.34%]. Homicidal and suicidal burns are not uncommon especially among young women [i.e. 15 to 30 years of age] and every case should not be taken as accident until proved otherwise. A clinical forensic expert or concerned authorities should evaluate all these cases to minimise the likelihood of inaccurate diagnosis