SAGE Journal Articles

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Journal Article 10.1: Arun, M., Palimar, V., Pramod Kumar, G. N., & Menezes, R. G. (2010, July). Unusual methods of suicide: Complexities in investigation. Medicine, Science and the Law, 50(3), 149-153.

Abstract: Differentiation between suicide and homicide often becomes difficult owing to the unusual methods of suicide used by the victim and the complexities thus posed. Investigating the cases of unusual suicides provides a considerable challenge to the authorities concerned. The issue of homicide should often be ruled out in such cases, which require careful evaluation. This is best done by correlating the morbid anatomical findings at autopsy with the death scene analysis coupled with psychological autopsy. Many forensic practitioners have reported unusual methods of suicide at their respective workplaces. Various types of unusual methods of suicide and the complexities involved in their investigation are presented and discussed.

 

Journal Article 10.2: Siddamsetty, A. K., Verma, S. K., Kohli, A., Puri, D., & Singh, A. (2013, October). Estimation of time since death from electrolyte, glucose, and calcium analysis of postmortem vitreous humour in semi-arid climate. Medicine, Science and the Law, 0(0), 1-9.

Abstract: Estimating time since death (TSD) with fair accuracy from postmortem changes still remains an important but difficult task to be performed by every autopsy surgeon in medico legal scenario. The aim of the present study was to estimate TSD from electrolyte analysis of postmortem vitreous humour collected from samples under semi-arid climate. Vitreous humour was collected from 210 dead bodies brought to University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, during the period of November 2010 to April 2012. The vitreous samples were analyzed for sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and glucose. The results showed a significant positive relationship between TSD and potassium (r = 0.841, p = 0.000) and a weak negative relationship between TSD and sodium (r = 0.137, p = 0.048) and glucose (r = 0.241, p = 0.000), whereas no significant relationship could be established between TSD and calcium (r = 0.055, p = 0.429) and chloride (r = 0.075, p = 0.11).