Electrical injuries currently remain a worldwide problem. These injuries are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality, but are usually preventable with simple safety measures. A retrospective study was undertaken of deaths due to electrocution that occurred over a five-year period from January 2002 to December 2006. The bodies were autopsied at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 118 cases were identified and all were accidental: 107 males (91%) and 11 females (9%) (male:female ratio = 9.72). The majority of deaths occurred in the 21-30 year age group (n = 57, 48%). Most deaths (n = 98; 83%) were due to low-voltage circuits (< 1000 V); a minority were due to high voltages (n = 20, 17%). Domestic accidents were responsible in 73 cases (61.86%). Deaths were caused most frequently by touching an electric wire (n = 62; 52.54%). Most deaths occurred in the summer (n = 50; 42%) with the lowest number of deaths occurring in winter. There was no electrical contact mark present in eight cases (6.7%). One hundred and four cases (88%) were dead on arrival at hospital. The most common cause of death was cardiac arrest, followed by septicaemia and renal failure. Congestion of the brain and oedematous lungs were frequent non-specific postmortem findings.

Homicidal burning of married women in India is a major concern for the Government, law-enforcing authorities, the judiciary, the police and medico-legal experts all over the country who are associated with dowry disputes. Dowry death, a heinous crime, is gradually engulfing and polluting the entire society. Sections 304(B) and 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been introduced and Sections 174 Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC) and 176 Cr PC have been modified but, instead of deterring dowry deaths, the occurrences are increasing day by day and the number of cases coming for post-mortem examination is rising. Both parties, that is, the parents and in-laws of the deceased, are becoming adept at manufacturing circumstantial evidence to serve their own interests. Therefore, to establish the truth and for the smooth administration of justice, reliable unbiased medical evidence has to be corroborated. This study presents retrospective research carried out in the tertiary care teaching hospital of MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, Eastern India, for a five-year period between January 1998 to December 2002. From a total of 58 burned wives, 32 (55.1%) were homicidal burns. These cases were analyzed in view of epidemiological and medico-legal aspects. The majority of the affected women (90.63%) were in the 18 to 26 years of age group. Death occurred within the first few years of marriage and most of them had no children. All the victims belonged to the Hindu religion and 62.5% of incidents occurred during the daytime. In 71.87% cases the incident occurred in rural areas. Eighty-three per cent of cases occurred in a joint family within the house. In most cases, kerosene was the accelerant and flame was the causative agent. In more than 68.75% of cases the total body surface area involved was more than 80%. Most victims died at the time of the incident, or within the subsequent 24 hours, due to hypovolumeic shock. The education status in 70.21% cases was either illiterate or under matriculation. More stringent laws and female independence both mentally and economically will reduce the homicidal burns in young brides.

The present paper highlights the steps followed to prevent the risks and hazards encountered at mortuary. Autopsy surgeons or Forensic pathologists and the personnel who assist in conducting the autopsy are liable to encounter a number of accidents and potential biohazards; who are at a continuous risk of acquiring various kinds of viral, bacterial infections from contagious body fluids, soft tissues of the dead and skin injuries. The prevailing practice of autopsy in major parts of world including India is empirical and crude and is due to ignorance, administrative apathy, under funding and lack of implementation of effective skill oriented programs on safe autopsy practice and for development of an optimally equipped mortuary. Safety in morgues is not only relevant to the team performing the autopsy, but also has adverse environmental effects e.g. contamination with radioactive and other contagious substances. By adhering to approved safety precautions and autopsy techniques, the risk of hazards at work place may be minimized. The present literature reviewed the risks related to the existing autopsy practice and discussed appropriate preventive, bio-safety measures to be taken. This paper highlights the preparation of safety guidelines for routine autopsy practice; which should be devised by forming appropriate committees which may include the practicing autopsy surgeons, mortuary personnel, the professionals from local infection control and occupational health and safety departments. The existing safety measures in a mortuary set-up should be evaluated and reconsidered after reviewing appropriate safety guidelines. Time to time organization of induction programs, workshops, continued medical education on safe autopsy practice will be a great help for the persons concerned. Nevertheless, the goal of such practice is to protect the concerned workers and the environment as well, from the potential risks associated with morgues.

Predictors of mortality - bleeding, CLS and requirement of high antivenom doses are warning signs which can alert clinicians to patients who may have poor outcomes. Our study points to a definite role of pituitary-adrenal axis in circulatory shock supports the hypothesis that pituitary involvement in viper envenomation closely resembles Sheehan syndrome. The mechanism of pituitary involvement appears to be a result of increased susceptibility of the swollen gland secondary to CLS and micro thrombi deposition in DIC.

Paraphenylenediamine poisoning is among one of the emerging causes of poisoning in Asian countries, because it is a constituent of hair dye formulations and is easily available in market at low cost. Hair dyes are rampantly used in Asian households compared with the western world. Locally, hair dye constituents may have allergic adverse effects, and acute systemic poisoning presents with characteristic angioedema, upper airway obstruction, rhabdomyolysis, methemoglobinemia, myoglobinuria, and acute renal failure. This study reports about the death of a 24-year-old Indian housewife who committed suicide by taking hair dye emulsion. She had an argument with her husband, and because of fit of rage, took a bowlful (80 mL) of hair dye emulsion kept prepared for the use by husband. She developed angioedema, cervical swelling, and rhabdomyolysis and died of acute renal failure within 24 hours. Toxicological analysis of viscera and blood revealed varying levels of paraphenylenediamine. Histopathological samples of kidney showed features of acute tubular necrosis and myoglobin casts in renal tubules. The aim of the study is to create awareness about the adverse effects of the hair dye, its poisoning outcome, and possible preventive measures.