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Chapter-17 Autopsy in Perinatal Deaths and its Medicolegal Implications

BOOK TITLE: Recent Advances in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (Volume 2)

Author
1. Sobti Praveen C
2. Biswas Gautam
3. Gulati Rajinder
ISBN
9789352701247
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/14137_18
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2018
Pages
34
Author Affiliations
1. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Christian Medical College and Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Charitable Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, GTB Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, E-mail: praveen_c_sobti@yahoo.co.in, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, 1 FF, HIG Flats, Rani Jhansi Road, Ludhiana, Punjab-14100, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Christian Medical College (CMC) and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
2. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India, Dayanand Medical College , Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, E-mail: forensicdmc@gmail.com
3. ESIC Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, Civil Hospital, Khanna, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, E-mail: rajinder_gulati@hotmail.com
Chapter keywords
Autopsy, perinatal death, postmortem examination, neonaticide, forensic pathologist, stillborn, maceration, criminal abortion

Abstract

This chapter aims to discuss autopsy in perinatal deaths and its medicolegal implications. Perinatal mortality is a sensitive indicator of health status of a community. The causes of perinatal deaths in developing countries are often difficult to establish and autopsies are few. Perinatal autopsy provides an opportunity to determine the cause and circumstances of stillbirth and neonatal deaths. It is also necessary to estimate the fetal age in relation to an abortion, stillbirth or alleged infanticide. The forensic pathologist must gather and assess multiple findings before arriving at a conclusion of gestational age, cause and manner of death. The multiple findings include scene examination, history and the results of complete autopsy. There may be cases where opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty cannot be given due to putrefaction, natural disease and indeterminate physical findings. Epidemiology, grounds for feticide/neonaticide, role of forensic pathologist, postmortem examination, interpretation of postmortem findings, live born or stillborn, and cause of death are also discussed in this chapter.

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