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INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC
MEDICINE

Dr. Mohd Kaleem Khan

Associate Professor
Department of Forensic Medicine
JNMCH AMU Aligarh
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Founding Scientists

• Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853)

▫ Father of toxicology.
▫ First to detect poisons in animals.

• Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)

▫ Developed the science of anthropometry, the taking of body
measurements as a means of distinguishing people. (This was replaced
later by fingerprinting).

• Francis Galton (1822-1911)

▫ First to look into fingerprinting.
▫ 1892 wrote “Finger Prints” which talked about the science of
fingerprinting.

• Leone Lattes (1887-1954)

▫ Developed the technique for determining the blood type of a sample of
dried blood.
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Francis Galton
(1822-1911)
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Azizul Haque

Sub-Inspectors Azizul Haque and

Hem Chandra Bose, in the
advancement of the science of
fingerprints.

The so-called Henry’s System of

Fingerprint Classification was
actually worked out by them.

The world’s first fingerprint bureau

was set up at Calcutta(now
Kolkata) in 1897, mainly by their
efforts.
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Hem Chandra Bose,

• In addition, Bose invented the telegraphic code system for
fingerprints and published it in 1916.

• Likewise Bose devised the single digit fingerprint

classification System

• The then British government reciprocated the sagaciousness of

Haque and Bose by awarding to each of them an honorarium
of Rs 5000 and by conferring the titles of Khan Bahadur and
Rai Bahadur respectively, on them.
 Founding Scientists
dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• Calvin Goddard (1891-1955)

▫ First to refine the science of bullet comparison.

• Albert Osborn (1858-1946)

▫ Authority on authenticating documents.

• Walter McCrone (1916-2002)

▫ Perfected the use of the microscope in investigation.

• Edmond Locard (1877-1966)

▫ Perfected the use of scientific method in today’s labs.
▫ Locard’s Excange Principle

McCrone
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Synonyms: dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• Forensic Medicine (U.K.)

• Legal Medicine (U.S.A.)
• Medical Jurisprudence (India)
• Forensic medicine = the medicine of forum or law courts
(Forum = Roman law court)
• Legal medicine = the branch of medicine that deals with the
law
• Medical Jurisprudence (Jurisprudence = laws)
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Definition dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• Forensic medicine is a branch of medicine where

the principles and knowledge of medicine is used
for purposes of the law, both civil and criminal.
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Branches of Forensic Medicine dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• A. Forensic Pathology: This knowledge is used in:

a. Finding the cause of death as a result of trauma.

b. Finding of the cause of death in sudden unexpected
death.
c. Interpreting the mechanism of injuries and giving
medicolegal opinions. e.g., amount of force; position of
victim and assailant
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B. Clinical Forensic Medicine dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

a. Medicolegal examination of rape cases

b. Determination of age for medicolegal purposes
c. Assessment of degree of permanent disabilities,
following a factory accident of a workman for
compensation
d. Psychiatric assessment of a person for: -
 - Insanity in a case of murder
 - Competency as a witness
 - Testamentary capacity in executing a will
 - Validity of consent
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• C. Forensic Toxicology
• D. Forensic Thanatology
• E. Forensic Psychiatry
• F. Forensic Odontology
• G. Forensic Anthropology
• H. Forensic Entomology
• I. Medical Ethics
• J. Medical Negligence
• K. Forensic Serology
• L. Forensic Science
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Forensic Sciences
• Forensic Entomology
• Trace Evidence Analysis
• Forensic Engineering
• Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic DNA Analysis
• Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Botany
• Forensic Podiatry
• Forensic Archeology
• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Optometry
• Digital Forensics
• Forensic Odontology
• Criminalistics
• Forensic Linguistics
• Forensic Geology
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List The Role of Forensic Medicine dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

1. To prove a point of law

2. Used as a piece of circumstantial evidence
3. To check the correctness or relevancy of the statement of a
witness
4. To help in differentiating Accident, Suicide and Homicide
5. Personal identification of unknown cases
6. To aid law enforcement forces
7. Other related roles of Forensic Medicine.
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2. Used as a piece of circumstantial evidence

• It is not a fact actually in issue but it is relevant to a fact

actually in issue.
• Circumstantial evidence must form an unbroken chain.

• To be of legal value, medical or forensic knowledge has to be

used, for instance, in determining the blood stains on the
clothing or on the weapon.

• In a case where there is no eyewitness, circumstantial

evidence becomes the missing link along the chain of events
in incriminating the accused.
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3.To check the correctness or relevancy of the

statement of a witness
• In law courts, there is always conflicting statements from the
witness of opposing parties.

• The opinion of the medical officer will be required by the law

courts with regards to.

a. Reconstruction of a road traffic accident

 An imprint abrasion will indicate the direction of the

car hitting a pedestrian
 Time of infliction of a wound
 Changes in colour and appearance in a bruise following
an injury will indicate when the blow was inflicted
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4. Differentiating Accident, Suicide And Homicide

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• Detailed examination of a body and the scene of crime is

required in differentiating between accident, suicide and
homicide.

• The opinion of the medical officer will be very helpful

for the investigating police officer and it may serve as a
starting point for police investigation.
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5. Identification of unknown cases dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• Personal identification is difficult in cases of: -

• Skeletal remains – An old fracture or a deformity will be

helpful in identifying the body.

• Decomposed bodies – A scar, a tattoo mark on an amputated

stump will be of considerable help in identifying the body.

• Dismembered body – where the murderer wants to

conceal the identity and cause of death of the victim.
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• Severely burnt body –

• Victims of mass disaster – in air-crash, earthquake, train

accidents
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Departmental Objectives dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• At the end of the course of instruction, the learner should

be able to: -
•
• KNOWLEDGE
Have the knowledge of common medicolegal cases and
the principles of management of such cases
Correlate between the clinical manifestations and the
autopsy findings.
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• SKILL dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024

• 1. Serve as a competent medical witness in the law

courts.

• ATTITUDE
1. Have the knowledge and attitude to abide by the moral
and legal codes of the ethical medical practice.

2. Have the awareness that it is one of the duties of a

medical officer to assist law

3. Be aware of the importance of consultation / referral to

Specialist whenever necessary.
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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

COLLECT EVIDENCE
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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

PRESERVE EVIDENCE
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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

TRANSPORT EVIDENCE
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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

MAINTAIN CHAIN OF CUSTODY

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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

HANDLE THE BODY

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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

COLLECT PERSONAL BELONGINGS

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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

IDENTIFY THE VICTIM

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SCENE OF CRIME OFFICER

IDENTIFY THE VICTIM

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FINGERPRINT EXAMINER

EXPOSE FINGERPRINTS
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FINGERPRINT EXAMINER

LIFT FINGERPRINTS
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FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

PERFORM AUTOPSIES ON BODIES

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

INFORM THE PUBLIC

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

TESTIFY IN COURT
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FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST

STUDY CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY

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FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST

CHEMICAL TESTING
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FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST

SAMPLE COLLECTION AND TESTING

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN

ASSIST THE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

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FORENSIC PATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN

XRAY BODIES
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MEDICAL TRANSCRIBER

TRANSCRIBE FORENSIC INFORMATION

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FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER

EXAMINE PRINT MATERIAL

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FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER

ANALYSE HANDWRITING
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ESTIMATE AGE, GENDER, HEIGHT, RACE

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FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST

SUGGEST CAUSE OF INJURY

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Thank you

dr.smmn's lecture January 17, 2024