Medico-Legal Journal最新文献

Background: The common methods of suicide are hanging and poisoning. Suicidal electrocution using a homemade device is very rare. Victims usually possess knowledge of electrical circuits. Here, we report two cases of suicide by electrocution using a homemade device.

Case presentation: Case 1: A retired electrical technician was found unresponsive in his bedroom, with two bare copper wires; one encircling the index finger of the left hand, and the other placed in the mouth. The other ends of the wires were connected to a wall plug supplying 220 V current. Forensic autopsy and microscopic findings attributed death to suicidal electrocution.Case 2: A 51-year-old-man was found dead in the bathroom with bare copper wires encircling both wrists and connected to a wall plug carrying 220 V current. Death scene investigation, necropsy, histological tests and toxicological screening indicated suicide by electrocution.

The right to refuse treatment and the advance decision were two major issues that came up in Re J (Blood Transfusion: Older Child: Jehovah's Witnesses) [2024] EWHC 1034. This paper discusses that case in relation to (a) the meaning of the right to refuse treatment, (b) why the term, "right", should be replaced with "immunity" in the expression, "right to refuse treatment", (c) the limitations of that right and (d) what the advance decision is and why it was not effective in Re J. The paper concludes that, although the right to refuse treatment and the advance decision are important facilities under the law, they do have limitations.

Air guns used for plinking are weapons with a short range and low velocity. Because of their low velocity, the ammunition usually enters the body without causing any immediate life-threatening complications. Lead toxicity is a potential side effect of a pellet lodged in the body. However, there are cases where blood lead level was below the reference value even after decades of an air gun pellet remaining in the body. We report a case of 40-year-old man whose X-ray of the skull revealed a metallic foreign body that appeared to be an air gun pellet in the maxillary sinus. The patient recalled receiving a gunshot wound to his left cheek ten years ago. The wound healed, the pain subsided, and the patient was symptom-free, so he did not seek medical attention. The present case study illustrates the incidental finding of impacted foreign body and its medico-legal aspects in the Nepalese context.

Modern techniques have enabled routine diagnosis of congenital cardiac defects, notwithstanding, there will be some that remain undiagnosed and asymptomatic until adulthood. But this is rarely the case with the patent foramen ovale, with the anomalous aortic origin of the left main coronary artery and bicuspid aortic valve. This case describes the sudden death of a female in her post-partum period due to cardiac tamponade following a ruptured aneurysm of the coronary artery at its origin at the sinus of Valsalva. Autopsy shows patent foramen ovale findings and anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery (AAOCA) and bicuspid aortic valve. The association of AAOCA with bicuspid aortic valve and patent foramen ovale is rare.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic condition characterized by the presence of a mutated form of haemoglobin (HbS). HbS polymerises into long needle-like fibres under low oxygen conditions, leading to the erythrocytes forming sickle shaped red blood cells. With repeated sickling, the red blood cells become irreversibly sickled and trapped within the circulation, and this leads to vaso-occlusive crisis. The patient, a 25-year-old female, previously undiagnosed with SCD, presented with high grade fever, splenomegaly and succumbed due to heat exertion precipitating sickling crisis, multiorgan failure and shock.

This paper highlights the background to the legislation passed in India to curb the menace of ragging and offers an insight into the serious issues associated with this heinous practice and the liabilities for administrators when it happens. We aim to achieve the goal of "zero tolerance for ragging".

The nose is a prominent facial structure which is too often overlooked by forensic medicine practitioners. Studies that consider the role of the nose in forensic practice are scattered throughout scientific literature. We provide a brief review of these.

The aim of this retrospective socio-demographic analysis is to identify those at higher risk of suicidal hanging in the region of Delhi and the National Capital Region. All deaths due to suicidal hanging from January 2016 to December 2019 reported in the Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital were included. Suicidal hanging accounted for 2.67% of total autopsied cases; 21-30 years old represented 42.62% of the victims. Male:female ratio was 1.7:1 and 38.37% of cases were from the adjoining areas of Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar. Therefore, a preventive strategy should focus concern on young adults, the male sex, and areas of Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar.