Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal issues:Narco-analysis

·         The human being is capable to lie by using his power of fantasy and imagination in brain; however, in practice of medical science there is no way of distinguishing reality from imagination and fantasy. Only mere speculation or leads of facts is possible.

 

·         Narcoanalysis is based on the principle that a person is able to lie using his power of conscious brain imagination and, therefore, under the influence of the sedative and hypnotic drug the capacity of his imagination, fantasy to create a lie is blocked or diminished, by leading the person into an altered conscious state of mind.

 

·         The use of narcotic and psychotropic drugs in narcoanalysis tests on healthy human being may have side effects and health hazards to the person.

 

·         The term narcoanalysis is derived from the Greek word narke which means anesthesia.

 

·         It is used to describe a diagnostic and psychotherapeutic technique that uses psychotropic drugs, particularly barbiturate induce a spoor/sleep in which mental elements with strong associated affects come to the surface, where they can be used by the treating physician/doctor.

 

·         The procedure was mainly intended for neurotic and psychosomatic patients, and it met with a certain success by psychiatrists in treating traumatic pathologies, mental deviation and conditions charged with strong human emotions. It is presumed that in the Narco Analysis Test, the subject's power of fantasy and imagination is neutralized and it becomes difficult for human being to create a lie in brain and his answers would be restricted to facts he is already aware based on truth.

 

·         Narco-analysis has been used in Anglo-Saxon countries from last more than hundreds year.

 

·         In India the application of the technique in forensic began since a decade back. Recently the honorable supreme court of India said that the test without consent is violative of the fundamental right of a citizen not to incriminate himself and his right to privacy under Articles 20(3) and 21 of the Constitution hence “No individual should be forcibly subjected to any of these techniques in question, whether in the context of investigation in any criminal cases or otherwise."