The words injury, assault and hurt are
invariably used by doctors in hospital practice and are used as synonyms. But
all three have a different meaning as per law. It is defined by the Indian
Penal Code as below:
- Injury: Section 44 of
IPC defines injury as any harm whatever illegally caused to any person in
body, mind, reputation or property.
- Assault:
Section 351 of IPC defines assault as an offer or threat or attempt to
apply force on body of another in a hostile manner. It may be a
common/simple assault or an intention to murder.
- Hurt: Section 319
of IPC defines hurt as whoever causes bodily pain, disease or infirmity to
any person is said to cause hurt.
When we as doctors deal with cases of hurt/body
injury, it means bodily pain, wound, disease or infirmity voluntarily caused to
any person in medicolegal cases. These would include abrasions, contusions,
lacerations, stab wounds, electric shock, firearm or ligatures etc. resulting
in injury to the human body. The doctor who is certifying an injury report
should keep in mind the Penal provisions (as below) required by police to book
the case.
- Simple injury: IPC
Section 323
- Simple injury caused by dangerous weapons: IPC Section 324
- Grievous injury: IPC
Section 325
- Grievous injury caused by dangerous weapons: IPC Section 326
- Dangerous injury: IPC
Section 307
- Injury likely to cause death: IPC Section 304
- Injury sufficient to cause death: IPC Section 302
- Causing hurt by means of poison: IPC Section 328
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