Continuing from my previous post on autopsy, here I share a few must-knows and tips to ease the process of conducting postmortem in the rural.
Brush up your Knowledge!
Whenever I receive a case for autopsy, I go through my forensic notes provided during lectures. For instance, if I get a case where the victim was found immersed in the river, I simply scan through the different signs to look out for in case of drowning. The eyes don't see what the mind doesn't know.
Medico-Legal Autopsy Training
Currently, the process of receiving this training is to first complete an online module. Available here mlt.gov.np. You need to achieve 85% in the post-test to be eligible to get practical training. Once done, I believe you will be contacted, which I was not. 😥 Also, you can increase your chances by sending a request letter to the NHTC demonstrating the need for skilled manpower at your workplace.
Check Documents before Starting Autopsy
Never start an autopsy without these documents
- Authorization Letter - Written by the Police requesting you to conduct the postmortem
- Inquest Letter (मुचुल्का) - Preliminary examination conducted by the police on the state of the dead body and nature of death (लासजाँच प्रकृति मुचुल्का) and the site where the dead body was found (घटनास्थल मुचुल्का)
- Complaint Registration (जाहिरी) - Submitted by the witness/patient party claiming identification of the body and their view on the nature of death - suicidal, accidental (भबितब्य) or homicidal (कर्तब्य). In the case of homicide, किटानी जाहिरी is filed - identifying the perpetrator.
Items Required to start Autopsy
We made a printed list of items required by the police/victim party to arrange in order to conduct the autopsy. Depending on the case where viscera collection may not be deemed necessary - we cut off items (numbers 10 and 11) on the list. Also, ensure that you get surgical blades that fit the scalpel available.