Emedinews:Insights on MEdicolegal Issues:Collection of biological samples and medical evidences in a medicolegal case

The analyst/doctor has a legal responsibility to retain untested biological specimens in legal cases so that another person can test them and come to an independent conclusion as to their origin.

The observation of scenes of crime, collection of human body fluids, weapons of the offence and medical examination of victim, accused, or both is required in any investigation of crime against human body such as injury, rape, murder.

The medical examination is carried out in emergency ward of hospitals and treatment of injured and dying patient remains the major focus of the treating doctor. But, in cases of crime against the human body, the medical examination and collection of biological sample/s, its documentation, packaging, and analysis have an important role and should be done by the doctor very meticulously with the high standards of science and the law in mind. These biological materials include: Blood, seminal stains, vaginal smears/slides gastric lavage, chemical substances, poison, hair, fiber, broken glasses, knives, blunt instruments/objects, fire arms, bullet, live and empty cartridge cases, wads, clothing etc. This scientific biological evidence becomes legal evidence in prosecution/acquittal of case if collected correctly.