Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Comparative Study of Pattern of Medico-Legal Cases at two Tertiary Care Hospitals in Karnataka


Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Siddhartha Medical College & Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


In the past two decades, India has witnessed rapid urbanization, motorization, industrialization and migration of people resulting in socio demographic, epidemiological, technological and media transition and development. In spite of recent advancement of technology in the field of medical sciences, death and deformities due to all causes, are yet to be controlled successfully; rather incidences of road traffic accidents has been increasing at an alarming rate in our country and also throughout the world3. Drawing a public attention and awareness towards casualties is important to prevent unnatural deaths; this possibly could reduce the incidence of such cases. This is a retrospective study of pattern of medico legal cases conducted and compared at two tertiary care hospitals at different places in Karnataka namely Sri Siddhartha Medical College Hospital, Tumkur and Harsha Hospital, Nelamangala, Bangalore rural district to understand the magnitude & pattern of medico-legal cases in these regions of the state. In this study conducted at these tertiary care hospitals revealed that road traffic accidents constituted 840 ( 64.6 %) & 1136 (75.3%) cases respectively being majority of medico-legal cases, followed by poisoning 110 (8.4%) & 149 (9.84%) cases respectively and assault cases 134 (10.3%) & 74 (4.9%) cases respectively. Male predominance is quite evident. The affected age group is 21-30 years with 397 (30.5%) & 664 (44%) cases respectively followed by 31-40 years 291 (22.6%) & 335 (22.18%) cases respectively indicating young were exposed to such casualties. Violence is a significant public health problem and assault or homicide is severest form of violence, depriving a human being of his fundamental right to live.

Keywords

RTA, Poisoning, Assault, Fall From Height, Medico- Legal Case
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Dogra TD, Rudra A. Lyon’s Medical Jurisprudence & Toxicology. 11th Ed. Delhi Law House.2007:367.
  • Justice YV, Chandrachud and VR Monohar. The Indian Penal Code. 31st Enlarged Ed. Wadhwa and Company Nagpur.2006:228.
  • Singh YN, Bairagi KK and Das KC. An Epidemiological Study of Road Traffic Accident victims in Medicolegal Autopsies.IJAFM.2005; 27(3):166-169.
  • Singh D et al. Spectrum of Unnatural Fatalities in the Chandigarh zone of North-West India – A 25 year autopsy study from a Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine.2003; 10(3):145-152.
  • M Peden, L Sminkey. World Health Organization dedicates World Health Day to Road Safety. Inj Prev 2004; 10:67.
  • Institute of Road Traffic Education, a Nongovernmental organization based in New Delhi. http://www.newsindia-times.com/2002/ 09/13/med30-poor.html as accessed on 21st May 2008.
  • Garg V and Verma SK. Profile of Medicolegal cases at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab. IJAFM, 32(2):150-152.
  • Salgado MSL, Colombage SM. Analysis of Fatal Road Accidents. Forensic Sci Int. 1998;36:91-6.
  • Sahdev P, Lacqua MJ, Singh B, Dogra TD. Road Traffic Fatalities in Delhi: Causes, Injury Pattern and Incidence of Preventable Deaths. Accid Ann Prev.1994; 26:377-84.
  • Friedman Z, Kungel C, Hiss J, Margovit k, Stein M, Shapira S. The Abbreviated Injury Scale- a valuable tool for Forensic Documentation of Trauma. Am J Forensic Med Pathol.1996;17: 233-238.
  • Hassan Q, Bashir MZ and Shah MM. Physical Trauma-A leading cause of Medicolegal cases at DHQ hospital Abbottabad. J Ayub Med Coll Abbotabad,2010;22(2):156-159.
  • Agnihotri AK, Joshi H and Tsmilshina N. Study of Craniofacial Trauma in a Tertiary care Hospital, Western Nepal. 2005;5(1):1-3.
  • Pawar V, Pankaj M, Tirpude B. Trends of Poisoning cases at a Medical College and Hospital in Central India during the period May 2007 to April 2009. Journal of Forensic Medicine, Science and Law. Jan – June 2011;20(1):21-22.
  • Turk, Elisabeth E, Tsokos, Micheal MD. Pathological Features of Fatal Falls from Height. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology. 2004;25(3):194-199.
  • Kalantri et al. Clinical Predictors of in-hospital Mortality in patients with Snake Bite: a retrospective Study from a Rural Hospital in Central India. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 2006:11(1):22-30.
  • Whitaker R, 2007. When a Cobra strikes: Closeup. The Hindu magazine. Available at: http:// www.hindu.com/mag/2004/06/13/stories/ 2004061300400200.htm
  • Gupta S, Prajapati P. Homicide Trends at Surat Region of Gujarat, India. Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. 2009; 26(1): 45-48.
  • Gupta BD, Singh G, Mehta R. Futility of postmortem examination in ‘brought in dead’ cases: A retrospective study. Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. 2006; 6: 9-10.
  • Haralkar SJ, Tapare VS, Rayate M. Study of Socio- Demographic Profile of Burn cases admitted in Shri Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Solapur. National Journal of Community Medicine. 2011;2(1):19-23.
  • Sivaprakash P, Sakthivel M. Discussion on Accidents, Hazards and Risks in Industries – A Review. European Journal of Scientific Research. 2011; 52(1):38-43.

Abstract Views: 847

PDF Views: 0




  • A Comparative Study of Pattern of Medico-Legal Cases at two Tertiary Care Hospitals in Karnataka

Abstract Views: 847  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

N. Harish Kumar
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Siddhartha Medical College & Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
P. Srinivasa Reddy
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Siddhartha Medical College & Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India

Abstract


In the past two decades, India has witnessed rapid urbanization, motorization, industrialization and migration of people resulting in socio demographic, epidemiological, technological and media transition and development. In spite of recent advancement of technology in the field of medical sciences, death and deformities due to all causes, are yet to be controlled successfully; rather incidences of road traffic accidents has been increasing at an alarming rate in our country and also throughout the world3. Drawing a public attention and awareness towards casualties is important to prevent unnatural deaths; this possibly could reduce the incidence of such cases. This is a retrospective study of pattern of medico legal cases conducted and compared at two tertiary care hospitals at different places in Karnataka namely Sri Siddhartha Medical College Hospital, Tumkur and Harsha Hospital, Nelamangala, Bangalore rural district to understand the magnitude & pattern of medico-legal cases in these regions of the state. In this study conducted at these tertiary care hospitals revealed that road traffic accidents constituted 840 ( 64.6 %) & 1136 (75.3%) cases respectively being majority of medico-legal cases, followed by poisoning 110 (8.4%) & 149 (9.84%) cases respectively and assault cases 134 (10.3%) & 74 (4.9%) cases respectively. Male predominance is quite evident. The affected age group is 21-30 years with 397 (30.5%) & 664 (44%) cases respectively followed by 31-40 years 291 (22.6%) & 335 (22.18%) cases respectively indicating young were exposed to such casualties. Violence is a significant public health problem and assault or homicide is severest form of violence, depriving a human being of his fundamental right to live.

Keywords


RTA, Poisoning, Assault, Fall From Height, Medico- Legal Case

References