A Retrospective Analysis of Medicolegal Autopsy Cases Conducted at Gims, Kalaburagi, Karnataka

BACKGROUND: Profiling of medico-legal autopsy cases is essential to prevent future casualties and accurately assess regional crime rates. At present, road traffic accidents remain a leading cause of fatalities. Objective: By creating a comprehensive profile of medico legal deaths, we aim to understand the underlying factors and develop effective strategies to prevent future fatalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the autopsy cases which were brought to mortuary, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi during the year 2023. Throughout this duration, a total of 924 medico legal autopsy cases were conducted. RESULT: Out of 924 cases maximum number of deaths were in the age group of 21-30 years(210) followed by 31-40 years(204), majority of victims were males (82%), in identified bodies 77.6% were Hindus, 13.85% Muslim, 9.64% others. In our study deaths due to RTA’s formed majority of cases (336) , followed by Poisoning (138), natural deaths (124), asphyxial deaths (108), railway deaths (81) and homicidal deaths (52). CONCLUSION: In our record based study of medico legal autopsy cases- majority were in 3rd decade of life, males constituted more in number as compared to female, Hindus being majority in number formed bulk of cases. The present analysis reveals that road traffic accidents, particularly vehicular accidents, poisoning, natural deaths and asphyxia deaths are increasingly becoming the leading cause of death in medico legal autopsies.