Forensic Medicine Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Exam is near; discussing anticipated questions in forensic medicine.
• Topics include IPC, CRPC, EA, and autopsies.

Updates in Forensic Science

• New Names:
  • Indian Penal Code (IPC) -> BH N Samita (N = Justice).
  • Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC) -> Ban Nagar Suraka Samita (Suraka = Protection).
  • Indian Evidence Act (IEA) -> BH Sak.

Important IPC Sections

• IPC 375: Definition of rape.
• IPC 376: Punishment for rape.
• IPC 174: Police inquest.
• IPC 176: Magistrate inquiry.
• IPC 300: Definition of murder.
• IPC 302: Punishment for murder.
• IPC 304A: Medical negligence.
• IPC 304B: Dowry death.
• IPC 84: Moton rule (insanity).
• IPC 320: Grievous hurt.

Types of Incisions for Autopsy

• T-shaped: Bucket handle shape.
• Y-shaped: Common shape.
• Modified Y: Used in hanging or strangulation cases.
• X-shaped: Used in custodial death.

Methods of Autopsy

• Virchow Method: Removing organs one by one.
• Letulle Method: Removing organs in mass.
• Ghon Method: Block by block removal.
• Rokitansky Method: In situ dissection.

Types of Autopsy

• Medico-legal: Suspicious or unnatural deaths; police authorization mandatory.
• Clinical/Pathological: Requires family consent.
• Virtual Autopsy: Using imaging techniques.
• Negative Autopsy: No clear cause of death.
• Psychological Autopsy: Understanding mental state before death.

Postmortem Examination Techniques

• Heart: Inflow and outflow method.
• Brain: Incision behind ear lobes.
• Spinal Cord: Posterior approach better.
• Stomach: Double ligation method.

Embalming Techniques

• Embalming: Preserving body with chemicals.
• Chemicals Used: Formaldehyde, phenol, eosin, wintergreen for perfume.
• Thanatology: Study of death.
• Taphonomy: Study of decomposition.

Signs After Death

• Kronlein Sign: Fragmentation in retinal vessels.
• Tache Noire: Dark band on the eyes.
• Somatic Death: Stoppage of heart, brain, lungs.
• Molecular Death: Death of individual cells.
• Rigor Mortis: Stiffening of muscles.
• Algor Mortis: Cooling of body.
• Livor Mortis: Settling of blood causing discoloration.

Types of Injuries

• Mechanical Injuries: Abrasion, contusion, laceration, incised wound.
• Sharp Trauma: Incised, chop, stab injuries.
• Blunt Trauma: Abrasion, contusion, laceration.

Poisoning

• Phosphorus Poisoning: Jaw swelling, smokey stool syndrome.
• Mercury Poisoning: Mad Hatter syndrome, pink disease.
• Arsenic Poisoning: Gastroenteritis, Mees lines, raindrop pigmentation.
• Lead Poisoning: Burtonian line, basophilic stippling.
• Other Poisons: Thallium, cadmium, oxalic acid, aconite.

Forensic Toxicology

• CrPC 39: Informing police about poisoning.
• Vitrialge: Acid attack (IPC 326A, 326B).
• Carbolic Acid: Green urine, gastric lavage.

Identification Techniques

• Age Determination: X-ray of wrist, teeth eruption.
• Sex Determination: Pelvic bone, skull features.
• Race Determination: Cephalic index.
• Physical Evidence: Lip prints, fingerprints, DNA fingerprinting.

Sexual Jurisprudence

• Dying Declaration: Can be recorded by anyone in front of witnesses.
• Dying Deposition: Recorded by a magistrate.

Medicolegal Aspects

• Res Ipsa Loquitur: Things speak for themselves.
• Act of God: Inevitability.
• Vicarious Liability: Responsibility for juniors' actions.
• Novus Actus Interveniens: New action intervening.

Miscellaneous

• Superfetation: Conception during an ongoing pregnancy.
• Surrogacy: Altruistic legal, commercial illegal.
• Infamous Conduct: Unethical medical practices.
• Ballistics: Types of guns, entry and exit wounds.

Conclusion

• Covered most important topics and questions in forensic medicine.
• Good luck with the exam preparation!