A Nine -year Retrospective study Of Epidemiology of Cause of Death in John and Jane Doe, brought for Autopsy at a Tertiary Medico legal Centre in South-western India: A Medico legal perspective

Sachin Chourasia; K V Radhakrishna; Ravi Rautji; Shivakumar D K; Sarala M; Thippesh Kumar N

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2018

A Nine -year Retrospective study Of Epidemiology of Cause of Death in John and Jane Doe, brought for Autopsy at a Tertiary Medico legal Centre in South-western India: A Medico legal perspective

Sachin Chourasia, K V Radhakrishna, Ravi Rautji, Shivakumar D K, Sarala M, Thippesh Kumar N

Abstract :

The challenges of unidentified dead bodies in forensic field are well recognised. It has many medical and legal implications. If Identity remains unknown it deprives the family members not only an opportunity to do their last rites and mourn them. That is why determining its true magnitude is very important. The present 9 year retrospective study was undertaken to study the profile of these unknown dead bodies. During the nine–year study period from the year 2009 to 2017, a total of 2333 cases were ought for medico legal autopsy to mortuary of which unknown bodies accounted for 7.67 % (n = 179). Predominant gender was male 155 cases (86.59 %) with male: female ratio of 6:1. In the age group 31–40 years (n = 55, 30.73%) maximum number of cases were found, second peak was found between 41–50 years (n = 48 cases, 26.82 %). In the month of April (n = 27 cases, 15.1 %) the maximum numbers of cases were encountered. Next surge was in the following month of May (n = 19 cases, 10.6 %). The manner of death was predominantly natural death (n = 106 cases, 59.22 %) and the top most cause being the pathology of respiratory system (n = 76 cases, 42.45%) followed by cardio vascular system (n = 21 cases, 11.73 %). Of the unnatural causes (n = 71 cases, 39.67%) drowning was responsible for the most common mode (n = 30 cases, 16.75 %) followed by head injury (n = 20 cases, 11.17 %). A need for more similar studies and establishing a central database of all states and union territories related to unidentified dead bodies was recognised.