AUDIT OF AUTOPSIES 2016 A RETROSPECTIVE, OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: This is an audit of the total autopsies conducted in the study carried out in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department KEMU, Lahore from 1st January to 31st December 2016. Methodology: The total number of autopsies conducted in the department were 785. All known and unknown cases were included. The data was classified according to age, gender as well as manner of death which includes homicide, suicide, accidental, natural deaths, deaths due to stillbirth and unascertained cases.

Results: Total number of dead bodies registered were 1879, of which 785 autopsies were conducted. The number of unknown bodies received were 401 and post-mortem conducted on these were 345. The male to female ratio is 5.6:1. The age group with the highest incidence of death is 20-29 (22.5%).Out of the 785 cases 383(48.7%) were homicidal and only 15 (1.9%) were suicidal. The most commonly used weapon was firearm with the frequency of 19.4% followed by blunt means 13.1%. The frequency of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) was found to be 3.8%. Deaths due to bomb blast injury comprised 1.4% of the total cases. The most reported cases of autopsy was the City Division with 384 cases (48.9%) followed by Cantt Division with 136 cases(17.3%).

Conclusion: Victims were mostly male. The most affected age group was 20-29. The most common manner of death is homicidal. The commonest weapon is firearm and blunt means. RTA is a significant cause of death. The area with the highest reported death is City Division followed by Cantt division.