Study of Natural Deaths in Custody at Tertiary Care Hospital in Rajasthan

Abstract

As death is final outcome of life, it is inevitable in prisoners too. Pattern of deaths can reveal living conditions and practices in a population. This study was conducted to observe the pattern of natural deaths among prisoners autopsied at a tertiary care hospital in Jaipur during April 2017 to March 2018. During this period 16 cases of alleged natural deaths in custody were autopsied comprising of 15 males and 1 female. The natural deaths were almost evenly distributed in all age groups. Carcinoma was leading cause of death in (37.5%) cases, followed by cardio-vascular causes in (25%) cases, intracranial hemorrhage in (12.5%) cases, septicaemia in (12.5%) cases, tuberculosis associated with HIV in (6.25%) case and Pneumonia associated with Parkinsonism in (6.25%) cases. All (100%) of the natural deaths received medical attention prior to death and died in hospital. Injuries were present in 5 cases (31.25%) but were not attributed to causing deaths.