Forensic Medicine
Forensic Medicine
Description
The term Forensic Medicine means the application of medical knowledge (all branches of medicine including laboratory examinations) for the administration of law and justice. It is obviously a subset of Forensic science. Several examples can be given where a knowledge of medicine is useful for the administration of law and justice. The branch of medicine dealing with the application of medical knowledge to establish facts in civil or criminal legal cases, such as an investigation into the cause and time of a suspicious death.The primary tool of forensic medicine has always been the autopsy. Frequently used for identification of the dead, autopsies may also be conducted to determine the cause of death. Test
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Facilities at a glance
1.UG Degree Courses- MBBS
III, IV, V semesters of MBBS Students
2.Diploma Courses : Nil
Training of MD Pathology, students from Medical College and RCC.
Training of MDS – Maxillo facial surgery students every year.
3.PG Courses
Four PG seats per year. There are 12PG students (Junior Residents).
Pathology Postgraduate students from Medical College and RCC are posted in batches for a period of one month, regularly.
Training is also imparted to MD Ayurveda and Homeo students in the Mortuary.
Other activities
Research project in Hand
1.Effectiveness of small group discussions in the improvement of knowledge of medical officers in government service who are dealing with medicolegal cases-Dr K Sasikala.
2.Comparison of cardiac Troponin in sudden cardiac and non cardiac death- Dr Sharija S.
3.Profile of Homicidal Death in South Kerala:A Five Year autopsy based retrospective study- Dr Saritha S R, former Assistant Professor
Current problems on which research work is going on and by whom
1. Effectiveness of small group discussions in the improvement of knowledge of medical officers in government service who are dealing with medicolegal cases-Dr K Sasikala.
2. Comparison of cardiac Troponin in sudden cardiac and non cardiac death- Dr Sharija S.
3. Profile of Homicidal Death in South Kerala: A Five Year autopsy based retrospective study- Dr Saritha S R.
4. Clinical Audit-A comparison of clinical and autopsy findings in death due to Trauma-Dr Anoop K Thankappan.
5. Cephalic Index and Stature from skull dimensions –An autopsy Study-Dr.Augustus Joseph.
6. Descriptive analysis of Pattern of Lip Prints-Dr.Cuckoo P Rajeevan.
7. Carbamate poisoning-An autopsy based study-Dr.Jinu.M.
8. Study of changing chemical composition of vitreous humour to determine time since death-Dr SR Akshara Veena.
9. Profile of Death in Children from 1 to 12 years of age- autopsy based study in Govt.MedicalCollege Thiruvananthapuram-Dr.Jintu Mathews.
10. Significance of Fluid in Sphenoid Sinus in Drowning cases and its correlation with diatom study-Dr Lekshmi Krishnan J.
11. Prevalence of undiagnosed HIV, HBsAg and HCV infections among autopsy subjects-Dr Soumya Vasudevan.
12. Histopathological changes in skin and subcutaneous tissues at ligature site in cases of death due to hanging and strangulation-Dr. Nivin George.
13. Abdominal Organ involvement in blunt injuries-an autopsy study-Dr Majubin M B.
14. Sex determination from Anthropological measurement of thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone-Dr Vishnu I V.
15. Morphometric analysis of sternum for determination of stature and sex-an autopsy study-Dr Denny Unnikrishnan.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
Chemical analysis of blood, viscera, vaginal, anal, buccal swabs, smears, penile washings for relevant cases. Histopathological examination of tissue bits. Microbiological tests like blood culture, serological tests for dengue, chickengunya and leptospirosis and Biochemical tests vitreous humor and CSF were done in relevant postmortem and medicolegal cases. Blood grouping will be done in autopsy and medicolegal cases utilizing the services of the Department of Transfusion Medicine.
CLINICAL ACTIVITIES / MEDICOLEGAL WORKS
Postmortem examination: More than 3500 autopsies conducted in Mortuary, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram every year. Autopsies are conducting on all days on receipt of proper requisition from the investigating officer or the authority concerned. After each autopsy the original postmortem certificate will be forwarded to the court concerned and the investigating officer. A copy of the same will be issued to the blood relative of the deceased on proper application in the prescribed format with ' no objection' from the investigating officer. This is issued free of cost to the BPL category and at a cost of Rs.25/- to others.
Medicolegal cases: Examination of victims and accused of sexual offences, accused in murder cases, age determination are conducted.
SPECIALITY WORKS
Exhumations and Scene Examinations were conducted in various cases.
Attending Courts: Medical Officers were attending courts and giving evidences in various courts all over Kerala and in Tamil Nadu.
• Conducting training to Police Officers, judicial officers and Public prosecutors in the Department of Forensic medicine, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Taking classes regularly in Police Training College on various topics.
• Dr K. Sasikala, Prof of this Department is delivering additional duty as Director of CERTC, Convenor of Medical Education Unit and the warden of Ladies Hostel.
Achievement
Publications in Journal-
1. Research article-Pattern of injuries to neck structures in hanging–An autopsy based study-in American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology. December 2012-Volume 33-Issue 4-p 395–399.-Dr Sharija S (indexed international Journal)
2. Research article- Epidemiological Profile of Suicide by Hanging in Southern part of Kerala-An Autopsy based Study-in Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine, Vol-33p239-240(National Journal)-Dr Sharija. S
3. Research article-Age at Menarche and its Relation with nutritional and socioeconomic status-A study among adolescent school girls. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health2015;4;777-780.-Dr Saritha S R(Indexed Journal)
4. Research Article-Autopsy Based Study on Injury Pattern and Socio demographic Profile in Victims of Fall from height into Water. Indian Journal of Forensic and Community Medicine;vol2;issue II;July-Sept 2015;125-129(indexed journal)-Dr Saritha S R, Dr Sasikala K.
5. Review article on virtopsy in Indian Journal of forensic Medicine & Toxicology. Jan–June 2013-Vol.07-No.01-p 183–187-Dr Sharija
6. Mullarian agenesis–an incidental finding at autopsy–a case report in Medico-legal update-Dr Sharija S
7. An unusual cause of death in poisoning in American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology.-Dr Sharija
8. An aneurysm of the heart–a case report published in Medico-legal update July–December 2015–Dr.Renju Raveendran
9. Autohysterectomy–a case report published in medico-legal update 2010–Dr.Renju Raveendran.
PUBLICATIONS IN THE YEAR 2015
1. Reseach article-Age at Menarche and its Relation with nutritional and socioeconomic status-A study among adolescent school girls. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health2015;4;777-780.-Dr Saritha S R(Indexed Journal
2. Research Article-Autopsy Based Study on Injury Pattern and Socio demographic Profile in Victims of Fall from height into Water. Indian Journal of Forensic and Community Medicine;vol2;issue II;July-Sept 2015;125-129(indexed journal)-Dr Saritha S R, Dr Sasikala K.
Succession list of HOD's
Prof. SS.Pillai - part time
Prof. M.Thangavelu - Part time
Prof.K.Kanthaswamy - 19/07/1966 - 30/09/1977
Prof.Jayapalan - 23/01/1978- 31/05/1987
Prof.Sivasankara Pillai - 03/06/1987-13/05/1993
Prof.B.Umadethan - 16/07/1993-17/05/1995
Prof.Nelson - 19/07/1995-15/01/2000
Prof.G Sujathan - 24/01/2000-31/08/2004
Prof.Girish - 01/09/2004-30/04/2007
Prof.Sreekumari.k - 01/05/2007-27/06/2009
Prof.Sivasuthan - 27/06/2009- 28/04/2011
Prof.P.Rema - 29/04/2011-07/05/2013
Prof.K.Sreekumari.k - 7/05/2013-31/05/2014
Pro.S.Sivasuthan. - 02/07/2014-30/04/2015
Prof.P.Rema - 02/05/2015
