Forensic medicine in Nepal: Past, present, and future

Atreya, Alok; Menezes, Ritesh G.; Subedi, Nuwadatta; Shakya, Arbin

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2022.102304

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This also translates to services often being limited and substandard, as the forensic units at peripheries lack basic kits or mortuary to perform forensic investigations compared to higher centers. 9,13,17,25,26 Most countries in South Asia have designated government medical officers appointed at hierarchical levels of healthcare facilities (Central level, provincial hospitals, district hospitals, and primary healthcare centers) to offer forensic medical services. Furthermore, Pakistan has a legal requirement set in appointing medicolegal officers: A minimum of two years must have been served as a medical doctor since graduation to be appointed as a medicolegal officer, for example.…”

Section: Mode Of Practice and Related Service Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14 On the other hand, it is not the case in Sri Lanka and Nepal, any junior medical officer with no added training or experience in the forensic field could be appointed by the government for the role. 25,26 In Bhutan's case, there are only two practicing forensic medicine experts in the country who are placed in the Department of Forensic and Toxicology at JDWNRH. Forensic medical services at other healthcare centers are provided by the general medical doctors posted for routine clinical duties.…”

Section: Mode Of Practice and Related Service Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Pakistan today have a Police-based death investigation system. 12,13,25,27 Though the Coroner's system which was transplanted by British India once existed in these countries, it has been replaced and modified to suit the changes in legal systems and healthcare approaches over the decades. In these five countries, all unnatural death or that looks suspicious should be notified to the Police first.…”

Section: Forensic Death Investigation Systems In South Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forensic Medicine in South Asia: Comparison to the Developed Countries

et al. 2022

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This study attempted to discuss the historical context and current practice of forensic medicine in South Asia. Comparisons within and between countries in South Asia, and between South Asia and the developed countries (represented by Japan and the USA) have been made to provide an insight into their distinct practice of forensic medicine. Though the formal establishment of forensic medicine in South Asia commenced at a comparable period to the developed countries, their pace of development has been considerably slow. Moreover, their ways of practice as well have evolved differently. In effect, South Asian countries follow an 'integrated service' system, whilst Japan and the USA practice 'divided service' systems to provide forensic medical services. Similarly, regarding the death investigations, most South Asian countries follow a Police-led death investigation system, whereas Japan and the USA follow a hybrid model and the Medical examiner's system of death investigation, respectively. Indeed, forensic medicine in South Asia is undeniably underdeveloped. In this paper, by highlighting the issues and challenges confronted in South Asia, key actions for prompt redressal are discussed to improve the standard of forensic medical services in South Asia.

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Section: Mode Of Practice and Related Service Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mode Of Practice and Related Service Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Forensic Death Investigation Systems In South Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forensic Medicine in South Asia: Comparison to the Developed Countries

et al. 2022

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“…6 Expedite autopsy and quick report mentioning the cause of death is primarily what the investigating officer is interested in and therefore a visit to the scene of death by the doctor performing the autopsy is usually not undertaken. 6 Death scene photographs are also not obtained in most cases. In this case, the investigating officer did not photograph the scene.…”

Section: Scene Of the Incidentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case, the investigating officer did not photograph the scene. 6 History was taken from the relatives by the investigating officer as a part of the full investigation via interviews with all members present in the house. Certain details regarding the scene were not available, including size, weight, and placement of the cauldron.…”

Section: Scene Of the Incidentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case Report: Medicolegal evaluation in a pediatric case of fatal scald injury from rural Nepal

Atreya¹,

Gyawali²,

Menezes³

et al. 2022

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Thermal injuries in young children involving the buttocks, perineum, and lower limbs raise suspicion of child abuse. Determining the manner of death and ruling out homicide in a fatal case of scalding remains a challenge for forensic practitioners. In the present article, the medicolegal evaluation in a case of fatal scald injury involving a two-year-old child from rural Nepal is discussed. Young children sustaining serious injuries from scalds is a grave social concern. Such young lives need to be protected from scald injuries whether accidental or purposeful. Differences in injury patterns on the basis of their distribution and their characteristics are important to determine the manner of death in such cases.

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