Post- Mortem Examination

(AUTOPSY)

Definition

► Autopsy means examination of the human

organs of a dead body to determine the
cause of death or pathological condition.

Necropsy means Autopsy of animal body.

 CONTD.
►It is a special type of scientific
examination carried out under
the laws of the state for the
protection of its citizens and
the assist the identification and
prosecutions of the guilty.
B. Types of Autopsy

1.Clinical Autopsy
2.Medico-legal Autopsy
3.Virtual Autopsy
4.Negative Autopsy
 AUTOPSY CONTD.

C. Medico-legal Autopsies are

taken on
► Dead bodies of known or unknown
persons who are victims of unnatural
deaths or those causes when the
cause of death is not known.
► Mutilated dead bodies or fragments
► Skeleton or isolated bones
D. NEGATIVE AUTOPSY

Sometimes no positive findings of the

cause of death can be found in
autopsy when viscera sent for
chemical examination which is known
as negative autopsy.
 E. Objectives of Medico-
legal Autopsy
 The identity of the body
 The Cause of death
 The nature and number of injuries
 The time of death
 The presence of poisons
 The expectation of duration of life for
insurance purposes.
 CONTD.
 The presence of natural diseases and
its contribution to death, especially
where is also trauma.
 The interpretation of injuries,
criminal, suicidal or accidental.
 In case NEW BORN BABY –to
determine question of live birth and
viability of the child.
 The determination of mutilated
bodies or fragments or skeletal
 F. Pre-requisites for Medico-
Legal Autopsy

 Mortuary
 Inquest report
 Challan
 Identification
 G. Inquest Report
It is an investigation report done by
investigating officer into the cause of
unnatural death of a person which contain
the particulars of the deceased, place and
time of occurrence, a brief history of the
case signed by the investigating officer on
the right hand side of the bottom and
signature of at least two witnesses on the
left hand side of the bottom.
Contents of Inquest report:
 Name, age, sex and religion of deceased
 Place where the dead body was found and
its surroundings
 Circumstances which lead to death of the
deceased
 Injuries, if any present on the body and
their situation and nature. If no mark of
external injury is found. It should be
specifically noted.
 Description of clothing’s on the body
specially in important cases and in cases
of unknown dead bodies
 CONTD.
 Incases where the deceased died
after admission in the Hospital, death
certificate issued by the Hospital that
contains
► Date and time of Admission
► Date and time of death
► Cause of death should
accompany the inquest report
 H. Challan:

 It is the requisition (report) in tabulated or

prescribed form written by the
investigating officer submitted to the
authorized medical officer while handing
over the body performing the post mortem
examination which contains the
particulars of the deceased and
relevant cause of death.
 Contents of Challan.

► Name, Age, sex and religion of

the deceased

► Suspected cause of death and

the purpose for which the body is
sent for post mortem examination
 CONTD
► The place and distance from where
the body has come, the name of the
person accompanying the body for
protection and identification.
► The time of dispatch from village
and details of articles and clothing’s
accompanying the body
 QUESTIONS
 Authorizedpersons for
performing P.M Examination?

 Differencesbetween Inquest
report and Challan?
 I. Rules for Medico-
Legal Autopsy

 The Autopsy should be conducted

in a mortuary
 It should be undertaken only after
receiving inquest report and
challan to perform autopsy from
the investigation officer.
 CONTD.
 The Autopsy should be performed as
soon as possible after receiving
requisition, without undue delay.
 The dead body must be identified by
the police constable who
accompanies the body. In case of
unidentified bodies a photograph and
marks of identification must be taken.
PRESERVATION OF VISCERA IN
SUSPECTED CONDITION
 IN CASE OF DEAD (DUE TO SUSPECTED
POISONING)

► Stomach and its contents. (If stomach is

empty the wall should be preserved)

► Upper part of small intestine (About 30

cm in length) and its contents
 CONTD.
► A portion of liver not weighing
less than 1 Lb. or the whole of
the liver if weighs less than 1Lb

► Half of each kidney

 CONTD.
IN CASE OF LIVING
►Vomit (300ml)
► Stomach wash
► URINE (not less than 100ml)
►Faeces
► Blood (5 to 10 ml)
► Saliva
► Others secretion
 PROCEDURES OF
PRESERVING THE BODY

►Embalming
►Mummification
►Adipocerous formation
►Freezing
►Water or soil with antiseptic
substances
 DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD
BODY
 Thefollowing methods of disposal of
dead body are usually followed:
► Burial
► Cremation
► Throwing the dead bodies in rivers
► Anatomy dissection
 CONDITIONS WHERE AUTHORISED
MEDICAL OFFICER CAN REFUSE TO
PERFORM AUTOPSY
►Absence of prerequisite and relevant
papers
Inquest report
Challan or disposal report
Relevant papers e.g.
medical/death certificate in case
of patient diet in Hospital
 CONTD.
►Insufficient Inquest report/challan
Omission of the name and code
number of police Constable who
will identify the dead body.
Absence of signature of
Investigation officer and witness.
 CONTD.
►Absence of police constable who is
supposed to identify the dead body

►Death from some infectious diseases

e.g. Plague, smallpox, rabies, yellow
fever, Hydrophobia AIDS ETC.
 J.Autopsy report:

 Consists of 3 parts

– Head

– Body

– Conclusion and deduction

 CONTD.
1.Head end includes:
► Particulars of the deceased
► From where brought the deceased
► Name and code number of the
constable by whom the body was
brought and name of relatives
accompanying.
 CONTD.
► Date, time and place of dispatch,
arrival and examination
► Information furnished by the police
► By whom identified before the
medical officer
 CONTD.

2.Body of the report:

► Consist of complete description
of external and internal
examination of the body
 CONTD.
3.Conclusion and deduction:
 ► This includes the opinion of the medical
examiner as to the cause and nature of
death after careful consideration of post
mortem findings with exact terms. Terms
such as, about or nearly should be
avoided. It is followed by the signature of
the examiner and remarks.
 CONTD.
 Insuspected poisoning cases,
medical examiners opinion should
be kept pending till the chemical
examiners reports are available.
 EXHUMATION

Lawful digging out of an already

buried body from the grave for
such medicolegal purpose as
identification of autopsy in case of
suspicious death from foul play
Parts sent for chemical Analysis
1.Earth
2.Hair
3.Nail
4.Teeth
5.Bones
 Time Limit For Exumation

►Bangladesh, England, India

= No time limit
►France = 10 years
►Scotland = 20 years
►Germany = 30 years
AUTOPSY REPORT ANALYSIS