The forensic analyst/doctor
has a legal responsibility to retain untested biological specimen in legal
cases so that another person can test it for an independent conclusion
When crimes like injury,
sexual offences and murder are reported to a police station, the investigating
officers are assigned to examine and investigate the case and collect the
related evidences. The observation of scenes of crime, collection of human body
fluids, weapons of the offence and medical examination of victim, accused, or
both are required in any investigation of crime against human body.
The medical examination is
carried out in emergency ward of hospitals and the doctor’s main attention
should be the treatment of injured and dying patient. However, in cases of
crime against human body, medical examination and collection of biological
sample, its recognition, documentation, packaging and analysis has an important
role and are required to be done by doctor very meticulously with the high
standards of science and the law in mind.
The biological materials
which are frequently required to be collected/recovered by doctor during
medical examination as evidence in crime against human body are 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 a case, if
collected properly by maintaining the scientific sanctity and analyzed by a competent
expert.
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