4. • Introduction
• Law related to medico-legal cases
• Medico-legal cases procedure in different suits &
management of cases
• Importance of law in medico-legal case
• Legal issues and challenges of medico-legal cases
• References
CONTENTS
5. -It is the part of forensic medicine. This branch deals with law and
medicine both.
- The Medico-legal case is defined as a medical case with legal implication
for the attending doctors, where the attending doctor eliciting history &
examining the patient, thinks that some investigation by law enforcement
agencies or a legal case requires medical expertise brought by the police for
examination. In that branch deals with legal aspects of medical practice of
Doctors.
INTRODUCTION
6. A doctor can receive a medico-legal case in any of the 4 situations-
• 1) Case brought by police for examination or reporting or the order
of court for medical examination
• 2) Any medico-legal cases were registered in the previous hospital
and the person is referred to another hospital or expert advice
• 3) When patient himself expressing his intention to register a case
against the alleged accused
• 4) After eliciting history & examining patient the attending doctor
fells some. investigation and by utilization of medical knowledge
doctors must judge if the cases are coming under MLC or not
7. LAW RELATED TO MEDICO-LEGAL CASES
There are various laws related to medico-legal cases.
• Section 44 of IPC deals with “the definition of injury that means any harm
whatever illegally caused to any person in body, mind, reputation or property”.
• Section 319 IPC deals with “Hurt” that means bodily pain or disease, infirmity
caused to any person.
• Section 321 IPC defines “Voluntarily causing Hurt”.
• Section 322 IPC defines: “Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt”. In Section 323
describes Punishment for Voluntarily Causing Hurt.
• In section 324 IPC describes “punishment for Voluntarily Causing Hurt by
dangerous weapon”.
• In section 325 IPC describes “punishment for Voluntary Causing Grievous Hurt”.
• Section 299 defines “culpable Homicide i.e. death is doing by intention”.
• Section 300 deals with “Murder”.
8. MEDICO-LEGAL PROCEDURE & MANAGEMENT IN CASE OF
“DEATH”
THE PROCEDURE & MANAGEMENT DIVIDES INTO 6 STEPS:-
IDENTIFICATION
REGISTERING & REPORTING
DYING DECLARATION(SECTION 32 INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT)
PREPARATION OF MLC RECORD - Pre-amble, Body consist of full
description about injury, Post-amble.
DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES & INVESTIGATION
TRANSFER OF MLC’S
FINAL OPINION
9. IN CASE OF SUICIDE,
RAPE,MURDER OR ROAD-
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
THE VARIOUS STEPS ARE:
EXAMINATION & IDENTIFICATION OF CASES
REGISTRATION & REPORTING
PREPARATION OF MLC RECORD
DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES & INVESTIGATION
TREATMENT OF MEDICO-LEGAL CASES
TRANSFER OF CASES DEPENDS ON SITUATION
ADMISSION & DISCHARGE RULE IN CASE OF
MLC
IN CASE OF DEALTH DURING
HOSPITALIZATION IF THERE IS MLC CASE
FINAL OPINION
10. Importance of law in medico-legal case
• Many practioners are usually apprehensive in dealing with these cases as they feel an MLC
means entangling in police cases, because of this fear factor they either try to avoid the cases
or try to manipulate them as non MLC. Article 21 of the constitution guarantees protection of
life and protects doctors to preserve the patients life and do their duty.
• The law usually requires reliable evidence of facts and authoritative opinions. Thus, a doctor
has not only to play a vital role struggling to save the life of the patients or relieving their
sufferings but also has to fulfill the required minimum formalities on medico-legal aspects in
each case.
• Keeping clear, accurate and contemporaneous patient records & To provide effective
healthcare
• For legal reasons, good and accurate record keeping may prove invaluable in responding to
and defending against a complaint or claim.
• Best practice purpose
11. LEGAL ISSUES & CHALLENGES
• The legal issues include confidentiality, autonomy, consent
to medical treatment by children, disclosure of information
in the consent process and clinical negligence.
• EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
• NEW TECHOLOGIES
• TELE MEDICINE
• SYSTEMS ISSUES
• MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
LEGAL ISSUES
CHALLENGES
12. REFERENCES
• BOOK REFFERS ARE:
-Apurva Nandi’s “Forensic Medicine” 34th EDITION
-Mestri Shashidhar C’S “Manual of forensic medicine for Doctors, Police Officers ,Lawyers & Nurses.
-Satish Tiwari’s “Textbook on Medico-legal Issues related to various medical specialties”.
• JOURNAL REFFERS ARE:
1.Retrospective study of prison deaths in western Maharashtra was carried out from year 2001 to 2008. A total 66 cases of prison
deaths were examined excluding deaths in police custody.
II.PI Babladi,V Vijayanath, SN Vijayamahantesh’s study says that” Deaths due to burns are common causes of unnatural deaths
contributing nearly 25% of all autopsies. Dowry deaths are a menace to the society and many of these are caused by burns”.
• WEBSITE REFFERS ARE:
https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/legal-medicine
https://www.medicalprotection.org/world/education-publications/case-reports
