Student's perspectives on objective structured practical examination (OSPE) in Forensic Medicine - a report from India.

The objective of the present study was to know the perceptions of students regarding objective structured practical examination (OSPE) as a tool for assessment in Forensic Medicine. The present study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (MGMCRI), Pondicherry, India. Undergraduate medical students of the 4th semester were enrolled in the study to know their perceptions regarding OSPE. The students were briefed regarding OSPE with a PowerPoint presentation and interaction. An examination was conducted using OSPE with10 stations and a total of 74 students participated in the study. The feedback was collected using a preformed proforma consisting of 12 items and analyzed. Most of the participants (82.4%) agreed that OSPE is a better method of examination than the conventional/traditional practical examination. The majority of the participants (77.0%) said that the OSPE covered wide range of knowledge than the conventional practical examination. A large number of students (63.5%) were of the opinion that the OSPE may be exhausting and stressful if number of stations are increased. Overall a larger proportion of the participants preferred OSPE over the conventional practical examination considering the various attributes examined in the study.

Suicidal strangulation by plastic lock tie.

A case of self-strangulation with a rare kind of ligature material is reported and discussed. The merit of the case lies in the 'self-retaining' nature of the ligature material deployed. The case subject was a 50 year old man found dead in an open field with a unique ligature material of 'plastic lock tie' in-situ at neck. Forensic autopsy revealed ligature mark above the level of thyroid cartilage, evidence of bleeding through mouth and nostrils along with generalized features of congestion. Toxicological analysis of blood and viscera detected organophosphorus poison in stomach contents. Cause of death was opined as mechanical asphyxia due to compression of neck by self-strangulation. The importance of a scrupulous forensic autopsy supplemented by ancillary investigations and circumstantial evidences are highlighted. The relevance of the visit of autopsy surgeon to the scene of occurrence is emphasized.

Estimation of age from human sternum: an autopsy study on a sample from South India.

Age estimation is one of the main parameters in the evaluation of skeletal remains in forensic anthropology casework. The present investigation is an attempt to study the fusion of manubrium and xiphoid process with mesosternum in 118 sterna (67 males and 51 females) of known age obtained during autopsy in South Indian population. The male samples were aged between 25 and 74 years and the females between 20 and 80 years. The fusion is studied to derive standards for the estimation of age from sternum. The results indicate that, with advancing age, the proportion of sternum with fusion of manubrio-mesosternal and mesosterno-xiphisternal junctions increases in males and females. A larger proportion of sterna showed fusion of mesosterno-xiphisternal junction than manubrio-mesosternal junction in different age groups. Fusion of manubrio-mesosternal and mesosterno-xiphisternal junctions was proportionately commoner in males than females. None of the sterna aged below 30 years showed fusion of mesosterno-xiphisternal junction. Nonfusion of mesosterno-xiphisternal junction was reported till the age of 48 years in males and 46 years in females. Manubrio-mesosternal junction was observed to be very variable with regard to fusion status as the joint remained unfused even in the elderly ages. Based on the variability of the fusion of manubrio-mesosternal and mesosterno-xiphisternal junctions observed in the study, it can be concluded that the sternum alone is not reliable for estimation of age in South Indian population.