Postmortem(emphasis on Drowning, Hanging and strangulation cases)

1. Medical Jurisprudence
Power Point Presentation
BY-Mohit Narayan.
Class- NLC IV.
M.P. Law College,Auranagabad

2. Postmortem findings
 Drowning
 Hanging and Strangling

3. What is a Postmortem?
A post-mortem examination, also known as an
autopsy, is the examination of a body after
death.
Post-mortems are carried out by pathologists
(doctors who specialize in understanding the
nature and causes of disease).
Post-mortems provide useful information
about how, when and why someone died.

4. Post mortem and crime..??
• Post mortem are carried out whenever there
is a case of “brought in dead” cases .
• These cases are made Medico-Legal cases as
the reason of death of the person is not
certain.

5. How is a post-mortem done?
• A post-mortem will be carried out as soon as possible, usually
within 2 to 3 working days of a person's death.
• The body of the deceased should always be photographed before
the autopsy for collecting evidences relating to any injury marks on
the body.
• During the procedure, an insertion is made in the chest and the
body is opened up and the organs are removed and if necessary
even blood samples, skin tissue samples etc are sent with the
organs for examination.
• The pathologist will return the organs to the body after the post-
mortem has been completed.

6. Insertion in the chest for
removing organs
Photography of the body

7. Who authorizes a Post-mortem?
• A medical officer gives his opinion of the need
and possibility of the post-mortem to find the
exact cause of the death of the victim to the
Investigating officer of the case.
• The Magistrate has the power to order the
exhumation of the body of the victim upon
finding the neccesity to do so
• The Magistrate can also consult the Medical
officer before placing the order of exhumation.

8. Drowning Cases

9. Findings in Drowning Cases?
• Drowning can be CONSIDERED as a possible cause of
death when:
Body is recovered from a body of water,
on the banks of a body of water or near a
fluid filled container by the Investigating
officer of the case.
Body is found with head submerged in
fluid (e.g. bathtub).

10. • Body found near Water
Body
• Body found in a Water
Tub

11. Autopsy Findings???
• Drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion, based
on ruling out all other causes of death via
complete autopsy and toxicology.
• May see bloody froth in the airway, water in
the stomach, cerebral edema, petrous or
Mastoid hemorrhage.
• Over-Inflated Lungs due to excess water
entry through Nasal Cavity or Mouth.

12. • "Washerwoman" changes of the hands
(shriveling of the skin) develop when
submerged in water for several hours; occurs
regardless of whether the person died in the
water.
• Postmortem lacerations / abrasions due to
scraping along rough surfaces in the water or
animal activity should not be confused with
antemortem trauma

13. Unconfirmed tests for drowning
Diatom test
 Diatoms are microscope algae present in bodies of water;
theoretically should never be present in a human unless
they inhaled water.
 Diatoms in bone marrow??
 Validity questionable because diatoms are present in soil
and atmosphere.
 Note : Diatom Test in the body gives a clarity to the
examiner of whether the victim was alive before
drowning .
 Absence of diatoms does not rule out drowning.

14. Over Inflated Lungs

16. Is this sufficient?
• No ,it is not always necessary in every case
that the findings stated would conclude that
the person dies due to Drowning.
• There can be cases wherein there can any
external injuries on the exterior or any alien
elements such as any type of poison present
in the interior of the body.

17. • The above points can also lead a doctor to
confirm whether the person died before
drowning, due to drowning or after drowning.
• Thus further autopsy and toxicology of the
body is also important to find the exact cause
of the death in which drowning can also be a
part.

18. Hanging and Strangulation

19. What is Hanging or strangulation?
• Hanging or strangulation is defined as an event in
which a cord is attached at one end to a fixed point and
the other end is passed around the neck in the form of
a noose or wrapped several times around the neck and
with the full or partial weight of the body.
• The only difference between Hanging and strangulation
is the type of Ligature Mark over the neck.
• Also Hanging is normally considered as a ‘Voluntary
Suicide’ and Strangling a Planned Murder.

20. Death due to Hanging?
• Death by hanging occurs as a result of the tightening of
a cord around the neck with the effect of body weight.
• It is not always necessary for hanging to be in a
completely perpendicular position with the feet off the
ground.
• In most cases, death by hanging is caused by brain
ischemia which develops because of compression on
the airways and blood vessels of the neck which results
in the fracture of the Hyoid bone or thyroid cartilage.

21. Death Due to Strangulation?
• Whereas Strangulation is the voluntary apply of
pressure over the neck of the victim by Bare hands or
any material long enough to go round the neck.
• This leads to the fracture of the hyoid bone or the
thyroid cartilage and also the compression on the
blood vessels and airways on the neck which finally
leads to death of the victim.
• The amount of pressure applied on the victim and the
material used, and also the struggle between the two
decides the depth of the injury and the Ligature Mark
on the neck.

22. Hanging and Strangulation???
Hanging • Strangulation by a
material or Hand

23. Findings in Post-Postmortem
• The findings in the post-mortem of a person
who died due to hanging or compression on
the airways and blood vessels of the neck may
vary according to the circumstances in which
the victim died.
• Findings in a Pure Suicidal death by Hanging
may vary to the findings in a planned murder
of the person by Strangulation

24. Determining the Material???
• Normal during investigation of the Crime scene
the Investigating Officer may know the Material
used for the act by the evidence present at the
scene.
• But if suppose the material is not to be seen,
then during the post mortem the pathologists can
guess the material used, by the small fragments
of the material found around the ligature mark.
• Also by measuring the diameter, width of the
ligature mark and the injury left due to the
material the same can be guessed

25. Analysis on the types of materials
used for Strangling or Hanging

26. Ligature Mark
• Ligature marks are those marks made by an item
of cord, rope, silk or some such material that has
been used for the purposes of strangulation or
Hanging.
• Ligature marks come in many different patterns
and sizes and can be unique to certain fabrics and
materials and this is why they are so important in
criminal investigations to determine whether the
case is of Murder or Suicide.

27. Ligature Mark

29. Ligature Mark due to Hanging
Incomplete mark, can be oblique or v-shaped, high
on the neck and injury Not so deep(depends on
the weight and the material used)

30. Ligature Mark due to Strangulation
Transverse, Generally complete round the
neck,below or over the Adams apple, Injury
generally deep but depends on the amount of
force applies and material used.

31. Note….Note….Note…
• It has to be noted that it is not always necessary
that a person must have died only because of
Hanging in every case.
• There is also possibility that the victim must have
died before he was Hanged.
• Therefore in every case it is necessary for the
pathologists to not only examine the external
area of the body but also examine the Internal
organs.
• Thus a detailed Autopsy and Toxicology is
necessary to determine the exact cause of death.

32. Conclusion
• Thus by this presentation we can easily conclude how
important Post-Mortem is in cases of Unnatural death,
can help in finding the exact cause of the death.
• The knowledge of Post-Mortem(Autopsy) can help a
Criminal lawyer to understand his case to defend his
client.
• Post-Mortem or Autopsy also helps a Judge to give his
Judgment according to the circumstances of the death.
• Post-Mortem or Autopsy Reports and all the other
elements of a Criminal Case helps a Judge to decide
the severity of the case and the punishment to be
given to the criminal accordingly.