Pattern of Death of Unidentified Cases: A mortuary based study from Patna Medical College, Bihar

Abstract

To know the pattern of deaths in relation to the age, sex, pattern of injuries and cause of death in the unknown cases. Methods: In this prospective study, all unknown cases brought for autopsy at Patna Medical College, Patna between 1 st January to 31 st December were studied. Information regarding unclaimed bodies with regard to age, sex, cause and manner of death was sourced from the autopsy reports and the inquest papers of the investigating officers. Results: Out of 114 medicolegal autopsies done, 89(78.07%) were of male. Majority (24.5%) of unknown cases belong to 21-30 years age group. 71(62.28%) cases died unnaturally while 43 (37.72%) of the cases died naturally. Of all unnatural deaths, railway accident injuries was the most common (26.76%) cause of death. Among 43 natural deaths, in 22 (51.16%) cases, chest and abdominal diseases combined were responsible. Conclusions: The government should take initiative at large to prevent unnatural deaths. It is high time that law enforcement agencies should ensure and adopt the protocol of criminal investigation under provision of law and correlating with all concerned intermediary agencies like FSL, NHRC and others for concluding the cause and manner of unnatural deaths.

A Study on Disposal of Unidentified Dead Bodies in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka Along with Legal Provisions and Procedural Circumstances

“…Every similar study done elsewhere had shown a preponderance of natural deaths. [5] Not all the unidentified dead bodies were handed over after death. Sixty-seven (48%) subjects of the sample had died only after admitting to a hospital ward.…”