Myths and misconceptions about medico-legal autopsies among the people of Tamilnadu, India.

BACKGROUND: Medico-legal autopsies are conducted as a part of necessary investigation in all unnatural deaths. In India, the awareness about medico-legal autopsies among the population is still at incipient stage. The procedure is largely stigmatised due to various myths and misconceptions. Apprehension about the procedure brings about various emotional reactions of relatives. Hence the study was carried out to know those myths and misconceptions. OBJECTIVES: To find out the various myths and misconceptions about the medico-legal autopsies among the people. To make a lay person aware of the importance of medico-legal autopsies. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in central part of Tamilnadu, India. About 600 participants of age 18 to 80 years were included. Their responses were obtained by semistructured questionnaires. RESULT: There is a significant difference noted on various views among this population. INTERPRETATION: Administration should strive to rescind these misapprehensions and myths. The medical staff, mass and electronic media should also come forward to educate them. CONCLUSION: Stipulation of health education about the medico-legal autopsies is must for a lay person.

"Foot length--A functional parameter for assessment of height".

The foot print provides a range of dimensions. Every individual has got a peculiar print. Hence, is being used for personal identification. Foot and foot print dimensions are concomitant with the height of an individual. An attempt was made to find out its correlation. Dermatoglyphics footprints of 100 male and 100 female of 19-23 year age were obtained and studied. Foot length (from foot print) and erect height of the individual was measured. Regression equation was utilised for ascertaining its correlation. The value of constants for male and female comes to be 15.690 and 87.906 respectively. The ß coefficient for male is 6.342 and 3.165 for female. Regression equation is derived for height estimation of either gender. The statistically significant "t" value is observed in both cases.