Forensic or Legal Medicine,Forensic or Legal Medicine( forensic = of or used in courts of law) deals with the application of medical knowledge to aid in the administration of justice. It is used by the legal authorities for the solution of legal problems. Some examples: are applying the medical knowledge in deciding cases of injuries, asphyxial deaths, sexual offences, infant deaths, poisoning, etc. In short it deals with the medical aspects of law.,Medical Jurisprudence.,Medical Jurisprudence ( Juris = law; prudentia = knowledge).Deals with legal responsibilities of the physician with particular reference to those arising from physician patient relationship such as, medical negligence cases, consent, rights and duties of doctors, infamous conduct, medical ethics etc. In short it deals with legal aspects of the practice of medicine.,Medical Ethics,Medical ethics deals with the normal principles which should guide members of the medical profession in their dealings with each other, their patients and the state.,Medical Etiquette,Medical etiquette deals with the conventional laws of the courtesy observed between members of the medical profession.,Recommended Books,Narayanareddy K.S., The Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 20th edition, 2001, Published by K.Suguna Devi, Hyderabad. Apurbanandy, Principles of Forensic Medicine, 2nd Edition,2001, Published by New Central Book Agency. Parikh C.K., Parikhs Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence & Toxicology, 7th Edition, 2001, CBS. Publishers, Bangalore. Guharaj P.V., Forensic Medicine, Rs. 140/-, Orient Longman Ltd. C.A. Franklin, Modis Medical, Jurisprudence & Toxicology, 21st Edition, Rs. 180/-Published by Tripathi Private Ltd, Bombay. Parikh C.K., Medico Legal Post Mortem in India, Rs. 230/- Published by Medical publications. Kieth Simpsons, Bernard Knight, Forensic Medicine ,9th Edition, 1985, ELBS Pillay V.V., Textbook of Forensic Medicine, Paras Publications, III Edition,2004. *Specification mentioned such as edition, number of pages, cost etc., subject to change with newer edition.,LEGAL PROCEDURE,Dr Ajee Kuruvilla.,INQUEST COURTS EVIDENCE,INQUEST,It is defined as an inquiry into the cause of death which is clearly not due to natural causes. * Coroners inquest * Police inquest * Magistrate inquest * Medical examiner system,CORONER,* Usually an advocate * Attorney or Pleader * First Class Magistrate with 5yrs experience * Metropolitan Magistrate * Medical Person,POWERS OF CORONER,Empowered to inquire into the causes of all unnatural or suspicious deaths. Power to commit suspected person or accused to stand a trial before a magistrate He can view a body to decide whether or not an autopsy is required * He can order the exhumation of a body for identification or for M.L. examination,* He is authorized to order any qualified R.M.P. to do postmortem examination and summon him as an expert witness to his court. He can grant conduct money * He is empowered to appoint an in-charge coroner during his absence.,CORONERS COURT :,* Court of inquiry into the causes of unnatural deaths * Presence of suspected or accused not necessary * It has no power to impose fines or sentence.,Circumstances where Coroners Inquest is held,* Sudden death * Murder, infanticide or suicide * Death by accident or poison * Death due to mishap by machinery * Death occurring during operation or under anesthesia * Deaths occurring in prison, police custody, asylum, Brostal school etc.,Police Inquest :,Inquiry should be held by police in all unnatural or suspicious death. Not below the rank of head constable The Police officer making the preliminary inquiry is called the “ Investigating officer” * Information to nearest area magistrate.,* He holds inquiry in presence of two or more respectable person of the locality; Panchas Panch Witnesses Panchayatdars * He prepares a report as judged by him and Panchas with signatures Panchanama Inquest report,* If no foul play is suspected, he can hand over the body for disposal to relatives * In case he suspects the doubt about the cause of death, he can order for autopsy. * Inquiry and trial of the case will start with the production of entire case records to Magistrate.,Magistrates Inquest,* Death of a convict in Jail * Death of a person in police custody or during interrogation * Death as a result of police firing * Exhumation cases * Dowry deaths,Reasons of Magistrates Inquest,* No person is deprived of his liberty and his rights as a citizen. * No person is allowed to die, deprived of his right due to neglect or brutality by the people in whose charge he/she is. * Doubt about the identity, cause of death, or manner of death of a person who is already buried.,Medical Examiners system,Prevalent in the USA Forensic pathologist Superior to all other types of inquest,1. The code that defines offences and prescribes punishment is a) Indian Penal Code. b) Criminal Procedure Code. c) Indian Evidence Act. d) Criminal Law Act.,2. The term “inq