RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MEDICO-LEGAL AUTOPSIES AT LIAQUAT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, HYDERABAD

Abstract

Background: Forensic medicine plays a crucial role in judicial proceedings by uncovering the scientific truths that lie beneath the surface, often invisible to the naked eye or untrained observer, thereby providing critical evidence to inform judgments. Objectives: The aim was to identify trends and causes specific to the region of medicolegal deaths, which can inform local healthcare policies and practices. This research builds on existing studies that highlight regional variations in medicolegal cases, influenced by factors such as law enforcement, socioeconomic status and cultural norms. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Study place: Medicolegal Section Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology LUMHS, Jamshoro. Study duration: 01 year from January 2022 to December 2022. Method: A total of 212 autopsy cases from the Hyderabad region were analyzed. The majority of the cases were males, accounting for 80.2% (170 cases), while females comprised 19.8% (42 cases). Results: The primary cause of death was fire arm on top of list for cause of death 52 (24.5%) followed by assault 49(23.1%), RTA (road traffic accident) 45 (21.2%), drowning 22(10.3%), strangulation 14(6.6%), hanging 12(5.6%), poisoning 8(3.9%) and train accidents were 6 (2.8%). The age range of the cases was between 4 and 75 years, with a mean age of 34.13 years and a standard deviation of 14.91 years. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 22 to determine frequencies, means, standard deviations, and minimum and maximum values for various variables. Conclusion: The studied concluded that Male gender is more involved with maximum cases from the fire arm injuries followed by assault and most of the cases were from the middle age group.