POST-MORTEM
INTERNAL EXAMINATION:
(I) HEAD AND
NECK:
(i) Scalp,
skull bones (vertex)
(ii)
Membranes
(iii) Brain
(iv) Base of
the skull
(v) Spinal
Cord
(vi) Additional
remarks
(II) THORAX
(i)
Walls,
ribs, cartilages
(ii)
Pleurae
(iii)
Larynx,
trachea and bronchi
(iv)
Right
lung
(v)
Left
lung
(vi)
Pericardium
(vii)
Heart
with weight
(viii) Large vessels
(ix)
Additional
remarks
(III) ABDOMEN:
(i)
Walls
(ii)
Peritoneum
(iii)
Cavity
(iv)
Buccal
Cavity, teeth, tongue, and pharynx
(v)
Esophagus
(vi)
Stomach
and its contents
(vii)
Small
intestine and its contents
(viii) Large intestine and its contents
(ix)
Liver
(with weight) and bladder
(x)
Pancreas
(xi)
Spleen
with weight
(xii)
Kidneys
with weight
(xiii) Bladder
(xiv) Organs of generation
(xv)
Additional
remarks with medical officer’s deduction from the state of the contents of the
stomach as to the time of death and last meal.
d DATE AND HOUR OF ONSET OF SYMPTOMS
It is to be answered in case of poisoning.
o OPINION AS TO CAUSE AND MANNER OF
DEATH
Disease or conditions leading to death …………….
Antecedent Causes…………….
Morbid conditions, if any, giving rise to the above cause stating the
underlying conditions causing it………………….
Other significant conditions contributing to the death but not related to
the disease or condition causing it
Place……………
Date …………… Medical officer
OBJECT OF POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION:
Following are the objects of a post-mortem examination
(I)
IDENTIFICATION
OF PERSON:
by identity is meant the
determination of the individuality of a person the question of identification
is important because without identify the dead body, a criminal proceeding is
hard to initiate against a particular individual.
Identification of dead is
done in the following cases:
i.
Explosions
ii.
Fire
iii.
Accidents
iv.
Floods
v.
Where
foul flay is suspected
vi.
Unknown
bodies
A. Data Required for Determination of
Dead Body:
The following points are
usually noted for the purpose of identification.
i.
Race
ii.
Sex
iii.
Age
iv.
Complexion
and features
v.
Hair
vi.
Finger
prints
vii.
Deformities
viii.
Scar
ix.
Tattoo
Marks
x.
Occupation
Marks
xi.
Clothes
and ornaments
(II)
TO
DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEATH:
One of the objectives of a post-mortem examination is to determine the cause of death which is determined
by the medical officer based on the appearance observed by him owing to
limitations of science this is not always possible only practical point of view
is to stick to routine follow the facts, examine them on scientific background
and arrive at the conclusion with an unbiased approach. In this matter, the composite approach is very helpful for arriving at a reliable conclusion and
sound knowledge of medical aspects of causes of death is necessary. Admits all
the causes of medico-legal importance, death due to injuries is the commonest
and very important. Care should be exercised in noting the type of injury,
size of the injury, and site of injury. It would be useful to have an idea about
various types of injuries and the causative elements.
(III)
TO FIND OUT PERSON OR OBJECT CAUSING DEATH:
A post-mortem examination also aims to identify weapons, persons or poison responsible for the death. another object of the post-mortem examination is to ascertain the tenant since the death. This may be done in two ways.
(i)
By
Recording Temperature:
Before commencing
examination, the rectal temperature should be taken. The rate at which the body
returns to environmental temperature are governed by basic principles of physics.
This help in establishing the duration of death and hence the time of death within fair
limits.
(ii)
EXAMINATION
FOR RIGOR MORTIS:
It is another method
that throws light on the duration of death. On average in tropics the rigor
Mortis sets within 2 hours and disappears within 24 hours. Its appearance and
disappearance follow a set pattern, irrespective of kind of death, whether it
is slow or sudden, natural or accidental. Rigor mortis is basically a consequence of chemical changes and environment rigor mortis sets in early and
disappears early rigor mortis offers a very valuable clue as to the duration of
death within the limitations.
(V)
TO
DETERMINE QUESTION AS TO THE BODY OF NEWBORN INFANT:
The question of live
birth and viability of newly born infant has to be determined in post-mortem
examination.
(VI)
TO
DETERMINE THE NATURE OF SKELETAL REMAINS:
In case of mutilated or skeletal
remains the prior or first object of the post-mortem examination is to determine if
they are human. This is only difficult when a piece of muscle without the skin
or viscous is sent. In such a case a definite opinion can be given by restoring
to the precipitin test which is equally applicable to blood as well as muscle
or any other soft tissue provided the tissue is not severely decomposed.
(VII) GIVE THE DEAD BODY A COSMETIC
APPEARANCE:
In the case of the decomposed body, another object of the post-mortem examination is to restore the body to the best possible cosmetic appearance before it is handed over to the relatives.