Medicolegal
Update
(Dr Sudhir Gupta, Additional Prof, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AIIMS)
(Dr Sudhir Gupta, Additional Prof, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AIIMS)
Permanent and irreversible stoppage
of respiration, circulation and brain function, the so called the ‘Tripod of
life’
- Generally the practicing doctor diagnoses death by
auscultation; but, this can be difficult in cases of excessive fat,
emphysema, apex beat below the rib, poorly beating heart and shallow
diaphragmatic respiration. All these conditions dampen the conduction of
heart sound with body wall.
- Diagnosis of recent death is also very difficult
whenever the death of the person has not been observed. When a doctor is
called to certify a patient brought by ambulance ‘as dead’, he must insist
that the body be removed to a well lit room where he can carry out his
examination.
- Even though the condition is satisfactory, there can be
errors during examination. The signs of life can be detected by special
methods like oscilloscope, ECG, and EEG etc.
- It can never be assumed that attempted resuscitation is
pointless. On the other hand, resuscitative measures should always be
continued for half an hour.
- In cases of electric shock, asphyxia particularly drowning
and drug overdose, resuscitative measures should always be done
- There is segmentation of blood in retinal blood vessels
in ophthalmoscopic examination. If still there is little doubt, the
patient should be taken to intensive care unit for further investigation
of heart and brain function.
(Ref: Dr. PC Dikshit Head (MAMC) MD
LLB, Textbook of Forensic Medicine, Peepee Publisher)
� o b `0z �w size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#222222'> Perhaps….no,
it should not be bad at all….
What
about you? Maybe the next time you think you are, think about the child who
lost one hand to beg on the streets.
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