Monday, 28 January 2013

Emedinews:Insighst on Medicolegal Issues:Instruments for shooting, stabbing, cutting are dangerous weapons



The doctor is not required to make speculations about the weapon of offence in a MLC case. According to the Section 324 of IPC, any instrument for shooting, stabbing, cutting or any instrument used as a weapon of offence likely to cause death or by means of fire or any heated substance or by means of poison or any corrosive substance or by means of any explosive or by means of any substance, which is deleterious to the human body to inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood or by means of any animal - are all considered as dangerous weapons.
The duty of the attending doctor is to record all the injuries, their dimensions as far as possible, and the body parts where the injuries are located, the nature of injury, whether simple or grievous, caused by sharp/blunt object, age or duration of injury along with the vital parameters like blood pressure, pulse, respiration and the mental status of the patient. When an investigating officer comes to the hospital, he needs some specific answers for his legal investigation and to book a case under law of the land.
  • Are the injuries self–inflicted or fabricated? If yes, please mention the forensic justification.
  • Is there any sign, symptom or smell of alcohol or any drug intoxication? If yes, please opine about his mental status due the influence of intoxication; also preserve a blood sample.
  • Please opine if the injured or intoxicated patient is fit to record his statement? If no, please give due reasons and an approximate time interval for medical evaluation for his/her fitness for statement.
  • Is the condition of patient is critical, severe or serious? If so, the dying declaration must be recorded by the attending doctor in the presence of one or two witnesses.

No comments:

Post a Comment