role of medical doctor at scene of crime

1. ROLE OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONER
AT SCENE OF CRIME.
DR. DEEPAK GOYAL
FORENSIC MEDICINE EXPERT,
NODAL OFFICER MORTUARY
DISTRICT KARNAL

2. WHAT IS CRIME?
• Word crime is derived from latin
word crimen, meaning offence and
wrong doing.
• Crime is breach of rules and laws
for which governing authority has
formed laws and conviction vi
mechanism of legal system.

3. CRIME SCENE

4. TYPE OF CRIME SCENE
• Outdoor( Prone to contamination)
• Indoor( less chances of destruction)
• Macroscopic( very large area)
• Microscopic ( small area)

5. GOALS OF CRIME SCENE VISIT
• What happened? ( corpus delecti)
• Where did it happen.
• When did it happen?
• Why did it happen?
• Who may have commit the crime?
• Sequence of crime.

6. PRINCIPLE BEHIND CRIME SCENE VISIT
• Locard Exchange principle.

7. • Securing the crime scene
• Separating the witness
• Scanning the crime scene
• Sketching the scene
• Searching for evidence( physical or biologica
• Securing the evidence( duly packed and seal
• Prepare a on spot memo.
• Photography.

8. ADVANTAGE OF CRIME SCENE VISIT
BY FORENSIC MEDICINE EXPERT
• Better estimation of time since
death
1. rectal temp can be taken at SOC
itself.
2. Rigor mortis( case report)
3. Pupa shell or maggots at scene
of crime..

9. BETTER EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE
1. Abrasion injury( Artefact may be
produce during transport)
2. In case of criminal abortion( doctor
can see instruments)
3. Trace evidence( blood, hairs, semen
etc)
4. Fingerprints at body and scene of
crime.

10. RETROSPECTIVE VISIT
• This is visit which is done after
conducting post mortem
examination.
Advantages
. Weapon can be traced at SOC,
similar to Injuries described in PMR.
Other evidence( like firearm) can be
traced after PM report.

11. DUTIES OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST AT
SCENE OF CRIME
• Preserve scene of crime( primarily it is duty
of police to protect the scene of crime).
• Ensure safety of all the team members
before proceeding for crime scene.
• Equipments that doctor must carry with him(
Gloves, envelops, hand lens, measuring
tape, paper and pen, thermometer, camera
for videography.

12. • Initial duty of doctor is to ensure if there is
any sign of life( life is precious).
• Enquire if body has been mover or not( in
case of hanging who opened the knot).
• Sequence of visit, first by finger print
expert then by trace evidence then by
forensic pathologist.

13. • Record date and time of arrival and
departure.
• Put general details in log book.
• Biological stains( blood, semen, feces, urine,
vomit etc.
• Evidence of struggle
• Foot prints, tyre print, vegetations around.
• Do photography of all the relevant
surrounding.

14. • Drag marks if any.
• Blood( amount, area of spatter)
• Position of body in relation to surrounding.
• Note clothing , look for tear.
• Cadaveric spasm if any.
• Rigor mortis
• Post mortem hypostasis

15. • Injuries in detail.
• Bite marks over body( man and animal)
• Ligature mark and ligature material) Do not
remove ligature material before post mortem.
• Weapon if any( sealed and labeled)
• Look for fibers, hairs, grass.
• In case of firearm( Leave in the condition they
are found, do not cock, uncock and fire).

16. • Finally transport the body to
mortuary in a sealed packet for post
mortem examination( avoid any
artifacts).

17. METHOD OF SEARCH
• Quadrant of zone

18. • Lane, line or strip

19. • Grid( most effective)

20. • Wheel

21. • Spiral
• Point to point( leas
effective, but less time
consuming).

22. LEGAL
• S. 100.4 CrPC. Investigating officer
must call 2 or more independent
person who can witness the search.
• S. 100.5 CrPC List of all the seizure
must be signed by independent
witness.
• Maintenance of chain of custody.