Profile of Medico-Legal Cases Coming to Casualty in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Thiruchengode: A Retrospective Study

Background: The Emergency Medicine Department plays an important role in managing acute medical emergencies and medico-legal cases. Emergency physicians have the dual responsibility of providing immediate life-saving care and completing necessary medico-legal procedures. Understanding the pattern of medico-legal cases is essential for effective emergency department planning and resource allocation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the medico-legal register. All eligible cases recorded during the four-year study period were reviewed. Demographic characteristics and categories of medico-legal cases were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Frequencies, percentages, and year-wise distributions were assessed. Results: A total of [TOTAL] medico-legal cases were recorded. Road traffic accidents were the most frequently reported category, accounting for [RTA NUMBER] ([RTA %]) cases. Other major categories included [categories]. The 20–30-year age group constituted [NUMBER] ([%]) of cases. An increasing pattern of poisoning cases was observed during the later years. Conclusion: The study highlights the varied pattern and significant burden of medico-legal cases. Adequate emergency preparedness, systematic documentation, and appropriate medico-legal management are essential. Further multicentre studies are recommended.