Do You Know?

Do you know that the members of the medical profession are liable to be called upon by police and/law to give assistance in varied medico-legal circumstances and situations? Therefore It is better to know at this juncture what is a medico legal case in routine medical practice.

What is a Medico Legal Case?

All medical cases with legal consequences constitutes medico-legal case? To make a mention of few examples we have cases of attempted suicide, death due to suicide, accident, assault, murder, etc.

Historical Perspectives

These cases definitely draws more public interest that they will not be taken lightly by any doctor as they have a legal consequence, such as these cases needs to be brought to the notice of law/police. Well here is the strain, to brig it to the notice of police and then go to the court of law as summoned for, one has to have sufficient time and patience. Therefore this burden of responsibility was thrust on Government Doctors, as all of them are directly under the control of Government and they can not refuse.

Thus till 1989 – all cases with legal consequences such as accident, murder, suicide etc, were usually be the domain of Government hospitals.

Mile Stone Judgment of 1989..

‘Every doctor is duty bound to attend to, and protect the lives of an injured victim brought before him, regardless of injury’ – Supreme Court of India, PLP,1989

The judgment also stated that..

Police will not disturb frequently the doctors who has treated such cases.Court of Law will give priority to doctors when summoned to the court.

Accordingly, presently no doctor can refuse to treat a Medico-Legal case and thus they had to accept these cases and treat them properly….

Doctors Dilemma..

Thus with this responsibilities reposed on all medical professionals on all doctors equally it became a dilemma for a doctor in deciding which are the cases that can be booked as Medico-legal Case?

Case Examples

A man of 35 years age reported in the Casualty, stating he sustained injuries by fall on a sharp object, by his friends who brought him to the hospital. On examination wounds observed were not suggestive of history given (first and second figures below). Wounds were diagnostic of being ‘defense wounds‘ suggestive of assault with a sharp weapon. Defense wounds are wounds produced on the hands, fore arm and front of the body occurring in order to trying to protect himself from getting hurt on the vital parts of the body. It might also result while trying to grab the weapon which was thrust against him by an assailant ( See the third figure below, which is a demo figure ).

Case was immediately booked as medico legal case and police were informed, who on arrival, interrogated with the victim and the friends who brought him, finally confessed the truth that it was a case of attack with a sword, by local thugs, who were hired by a money lender, who had given a loan to the victim earlier, which he could return in time.