Pattern of Medico-Legal Autopsies and Causes of Death in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis

Lishu Chaure; Kavyesh Sahu; Bhoj Kumar Sahu

doi:10.37022/wjcmpr.v8i3.463

Authors

LishuChaure Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Bharat Ratna Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Government Medical College, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India.
Kavyesh Sahu Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, India.
Bhoj Kumar Sahu Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, SwargiyaBisahu Das MahantSmritiChikitsaMahavidyalaya, Korba, Chhattisgarh, India.

Abstract

Background: Medico-legal autopsy is the cornerstone of medico-legal practice and remains the most important method to determine the cause and manner of death in unnatural or suspicious deaths. The pattern of such deaths varies with geography, socio-economic profile and the catchment area of the hospital. Objectives: To analyse the demographic profile, manner and cause of death among medico-legal autopsies conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India over a five-year period. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, record-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Bharat Ratna Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Government Medical College, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. All medico-legal autopsies performed between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2025 were included. Autopsy registers, inquest papers and post-mortem reports were reviewed. Data were coded in Microsoft Excel and analysed with descriptive statistics; categorical variables are expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 3250 medico-legal autopsies were performed during the study period, with a progressive year-on-year rise from 400 cases in 2021 to 900 cases in 2025. Males (72.0%) outnumbered females (28.0%) with a male-to-female ratio of 2.57: 1. The most affected age group was 21-30 years (28.5%), followed by 31-40 years (22.0%). Accidental deaths accounted for the largest share (55.0%) of all autopsies, followed by suicidal (20.0%), natural (15.0%), homicidal (7.0%) and undetermined (3.0%) deaths. Road traffic accidents emerged as the single leading cause of death (30.0%), followed by poisoning and natural causes (15.0% each), hanging (12.0%) and burns (8.0%). A rural predominance (65.0%) was observed. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents, poisoning and hanging constitute the top three preventable causes of medico-legal mortality in the region. Young adult males constituted the largest demographic group in this autopsy series. Strict enforcement of traffic laws, strengthening of mental-health services and regulation of pesticide access are urgently warranted.

Keywords:

Medico-legal autopsy, cause of death, manner of death, road traffic accident, poisoning, hanging, tertiary care hospital, Chhattisgarh

DOI

https://doi.org/10.37022/wjcmpr.v8i3.463

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