A Comprehensive Medico-legal Analysis of Paediatric Deaths at Osmania General Hospital Hyderabad

Introduction: In the early phase of life, even with the advent of urbanization and civilization, children are not considered relatively as safe as they are vulnerable now. The advent of civilization and urbanization has failed to put children in safe zone. The infancy or childhood is no longer a protected period and subjected to all kinds of maladies of the society. Even childhood (or) infancy is not free from the vagaries like suicide, homicide, kidnapping, neglect and also the sexual assaults. Death from unnatural causes is a black remark on humanity. Study of all the factors causing death unnaturally will be useful in reducing the incidence.

Materials and Methods: The present study has been conducted on the deaths of paediatric age group (i.e., 0 - 15 years) which are of medico-legal significance. This study is based on the Medico-legal autopsies conducted at Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad. A total number of 500 cases occurred during the period of this study from July, 2007 to June, 2009.

Conclusion: The incidence of death in paediatric age group was more between 13-15 years, least between 4-6 years age group, maximum deaths were due to accidents (56.20%) followed by suicides (27.80%) and homicides (7.8%). Total 500 death were studied of which (48.4%) were males and (51.6%) were females. Maximum incidence of paediatric deaths was from middle and lower socio-economic groups.