Ashish Tyagi

Abstract

High voltage electrical injuries are comparatively unusual but show a high rate of mortality. A dead body of a truck driver who died while his truck trapped in overhead high-voltage cables was brought for post-mortem examination. The autopsy revealed typical electrocution injuries with first and second-degree burns, peeled off epidermis and flash burns around the body at different areas. The severity of electric shock varies between simple harmless shock to death. The passage of electric current through the body produces wide range of effects, varying from insignificant localized spasm, little or no contact burns, fatality with little or no burns or extreme severe burning. This case report discusses the injuries sustained by a young adult drive while driving a truck, due to accidental contact of vehicle with overhead high-tension wire. Keywords: High-voltage electrocution, Accidental contact, Burns, Electrical injuries.

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Abstract

The obscurity of failure to find poison in viscera of the individual whose death is due to poisoning is a routine problem in India and the reasons of it are many. Many poisons apart from corrosives and irritants do not show characteristic post-mortem signs and one of the biggest issues is that only common poisons are tested. This factor combined with the lack of legislation on procedures governing the collection and storage of the samples often leads to a negative FSL report even when there are clear signs of poisoning. This makes it very difficult to ascertain the exact cause of death in the post-mortem report. Further, there are occasions when the FSL report is not brought on record even though the samples have been sent to the Chemical Examiner for analysis. FSL report, though not mandatory in all cases, plays an important role where the allegations pertain specifically to death by poisoning. The absence of the FSL report or a negative FSL Report weakens the prosecution case substantially as not every case has adequate circumstantial evidence to prove that the deceased was administered poison by the accused. The conclusion of cause of death in a case where the death is due to poisoning but viscera report gives negative result, poses confusion to the autopsy doctor, law and public. The salient points covering various aspects of negative viscera report with special reference to the false positive or false negative results and its effect on criminal judicial system in conviction and acquittal along with suggested remedies are to be discussed here. Keywords: Poison, Autopsy, Negative viscera report, Chemical analysis, FSL.

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