Transcript File

Study
of death in its medicoThanatology
legal aspects
thanatology
Conditions mimicking Death
Differential diagnosis of Death
Hypothermia
Electrocution
Suspended animation
Brain damage
Narcotic poisoning
thanatology
Definition of Death
Complete and irreversible loss of vital
functions Ceasing
of the body,
as defined by
to exist,
physicians, to an extent that under
end of individuality of a person
the given circumstances, it is
impossible for the person to revive or
to be resuscitated
Black’s Law Dictionary
molecular
somatic
thanatology
Death
1 Mode
The value or item occurring most
frequently in a series of
observations or statistical data.
2 Manner or nature
3 Cause
4 Mechanism
thanatology
CNS
function
LIFE
Circulation
Respiration
Tripod of life
Life
circulation
Tripod of death
death
circulation
thanatology
Modes of death
Cessation of CNS function
Coma (ko’ma)
CNS injury
Narcotic poisoning
Brain stem failure
thanatology
Modes of death
Cessation of circulation
Syncope (sing’kpee)
Mechanical trauma
Shock
Myocardial infarction
thanatology
Modes of death
Cessation of respiration
Asphyxia
CO poisoning
Choking
Hanging
thanatology
Modes of death
Coma
Syncope
Tripod of
death
Asphyxia
thanatology
Cause of death
Injury or disease which leads to death
Stab in the heart
Myocardial infarction
Carbonmonoxide poisoning
Road side accident
Fall from height
Carcinoma lung
URAIZY
thanatology
International Form of Medical
Certificate of Cause of Death
I
Disease or condition directly leading
to death
Antecedent causes
(a) …………………...………..
due to or as a consequence of
(b) …………………………….
due to or as a consequence of
Morbid conditions, if any, giving rise to the above (c) ………….………………….
cause stating the underlying condition last
……………………………..
II
Other significant conditions contributing to
….………………………….
death but not related to the disease or condition
……………….……………
causing it
……….…………………….
thanatology
Manner or nature of death
Natural - diseases and pathological
conditions leading to death
e.g. carcinoma breast
plague
CCF
senility
URAIZY
thanatology
Manner or nature of death
Natural Unnatural – homicidal
throttling
stabbing
poisoning
thanatology
Manner or nature of death
Natural Unnatural - homicidal
- suicidal
cut throat
barbiturate poisoning
jumping from height
thanatology
Manner or nature of death
Natural Unnatural - homicidal
- suicidal
- accidental
CO poisoning
road accidents
thanatology
Manner or nature of death
Natural Unnatural - homicidal
- suicidal
- accidental
- manipulative/exhibitionist
CuSO4 intake
Russian roulette
Trapeze
‘chicken’
thanatology
Manner or nature of death
Natural Unnatural - homicidal
- suicidal
- accidental
- manipulative/exhibitionist
thanatology
thanatology
Sudden Natural Death
First year of life
Acute respiratory ...
infection
Bronchopneumonia
Bronchitis; Bronchiolitis
Inhalation of
...
Vomitus; Foreign body
Suffocation
...
Accidental; Homicidal
Congenital Heart ...
Disease
Transposition of great
vessels; Fallot's tetralogy
Endocardial fibroelastosis
Rh-isoimmunization
Diseases of CNS
…
Other
Meningitis; encephalitis
Adrenal Haemorrhage
Gastro-enteritis
Intussusception
Malnutrition
Trauma
...
Poisoning
...
Accidental
Homicidal
Aspirin; chloral hydrate
thanatology
Sudden Natural Death
2-20 years of life
Ac Respiratory
Infections
…
Inhalation of
…
Congenital Heart
Disease
…
Fulminating influenza
Bronchopneumonia; Bronchiolitis
Asthma
Vomitus; foreign bodies
Fallot's Tetralogy
Septal defects; Mycotic aneurysms
CNS Disease
…
Meningitis; Encephalitis
GIT Diseases
…
Appendicitis
Trauma
…
Poisoning
...
Iron; Aspirin; Drug addiction
thanatology
Sudden Natural Death
20-40 years of life
CNS diseases
…
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Epilepsy
CVS diseases
…
Mitral stenosis; Myocarditis
Coronary artery disease
Coarctation of aorta
Resp system
…
Asthma
Female
…
Abortion; Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
...
Alcohol; Barbiturates
Tranquilisers; Drug addiction
Trauma
Poisoning
thanatology
Sudden Natural Death
40-60 years of life
CVS diseases
…
Coronary artery disease; Mitral stenosis
Dissecting aneurysm
CNS
…
Intra-cerebral haemorrhage
Resp system
…
Pulmonary embolus
GIT
…
Acute pancreatitis; perforated peptic ulcer
Upper alimentary tract haemorrhage
Rupture of oesophageal varices
Poisoning
...
Barbiturates; tranquilisers
Alcohol;
Viral diseases
…
viral hepatitis
thanatology
Sudden Natural Death
Over 60 years of life
Resp system
…
Bronchopneumonia; influenza
CVS system
…
Intra-cerebral haemorrhage
Hypertensive, neoplastic &
Coronary artery disease; Rupture of heart
Rupture of aorta or other great vessels
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Hypertensive cardiac failure
Resp system
…
Pulmonary embolus
GIT
…
Peritonitis
...
Barbiturates; Carbon monoxide
Hypothermia
Poisoning
thanatology
Post-mortem examinations 1972-81
trauma 31.68
Homicide 45.2
Accidents 28.8
undetermined 1.89
exhumation 1.47
non-viable 1.66
viable 1.83
natural 11.37
burns 0.53
poisoning 4.65
suicide 2.57
electrical 2.15
fire arm 7.03
strangulation 3.07
miscellaneous 3.45
road 26.65
Newborn 3.99
conducted at the Surgeon Medico-legal Punjab Office, Lahore
thanatology
fire arm 7.03
blunt force nongrievous 65.47
blunt force
grievous
3.01
sharp force
non-grievous
10.24
poisoning/alcohol 16.55
Medico-legal Certifications 1972-81
Total cases
56,056
rape 2.99
sodomy 0.59
firearm trauma 0.57
burns 0.39
sharp force grievous 0.19
Trauma cases all types 79.48
Trend observed in Surgeon Medico-legal Punjab Office, Lahore
(data mainly from Lahore)
thanatology
Systems of death investigation
Coroner system
Medical Examiner system
Police system
Continental system
thanatology
Systems of death investigation
Coroner system
Doctors
Information from
Police
ref for
certif’n
Coroner
no autopsy
Public
Ref to Registrar
for disposal
autopsy
unnatural causes
natural causes
Inquest
findings – homicide, accident, suicide, misadventure, drugs,
industrial, neglect, abortion, lack of attention at birth, ‘open’
Systems of death investigation
Jurisdiction of Medical Examiner
• any death from trauma, injury, violence, or poisoning
attributable to accident, suicide or homicide;
• sudden deaths to persons in apparent good health or
deaths unattended by a physician;
• deaths of persons in jail, prison, or another correctional
institution, or in police custody;
• deaths of patients/residents of state mental health or
mental retardation facilities;
• the sudden death of any infant less than eighteen months
of age whose death might be attributable to SIDS; and
• any other suspicious, unusual, or unnatural death.