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Questions and Answers

What type of inquest is conducted by an investigating police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector?

Magistrate inquest

Police inquest (correct)

Coroner's inquest

Medical examiner inquest

Which scenario necessitates a magistrate inquest?

Death due to accidental poisoning

Sudden death during a medical procedure

Death in police custody (correct)

Natural death in a private residence

What is the primary purpose of an inquest report?

To determine financial settlements for the deceased's estate

To compile a history of the deceased's medical records

To assess the mental state of the deceased

To investigate the cause of death (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a part of the inquest report?

Witness testimony Signup and view all the answers

Who are coroners authorized to conduct inquests?

Elite individuals with legal experience Signup and view all the answers

In which region is the medical examiners system most commonly practiced as a reliable means of conducting inquests?

United States Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of the signature section in an inquest report?

At least five witness signatures are required, in uneven numbers. Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'Body' section of an inquest report typically contain?

Description of the death, dead body, and opinions about the cause and manner of death Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary significance of the Chalan in the context of post-mortem documentation?

It serves as a government-approved record of death. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following must be confirmed before proceeding with exhumation?

Confirmation of the identity of the grave. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main objectives of exhumation in a medico-legal context?

To establish the cause and nature of death. Signup and view all the answers

Which member of the team is essential during the exhumation process?

Police officer to maintain discipline. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as the 'scene of crime'?

The place where a crime is believed to have occurred. Signup and view all the answers

Which tool is NOT typically required at the scene of a crime?

Laptop for case documentation. Signup and view all the answers

What position should a doctor maintain during exhumation to ensure safety?

In line with the flow of the wind. Signup and view all the answers

Which system is NOT part of the medico-legal systems mentioned?

Military tribunal system. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medico-Legal System

An inquest is a primary investigation into the cause of sudden, suspicious, or unnatural death.
Types of inquest include police, magistrate, coroner, and medical examiner systems.

Police Inquest

Conducted by a police officer (not below sub-inspector rank).
Covers all sudden, suspicious, and unnatural deaths, excluding cases needing magistrate inquest.

Magistrate Inquest

Conducted by a magistrate.
Mandatory conditions include death in police custody, police interrogation, death due to police/law enforcement crossfire, death in prisons, police vans, reformatories, Borstal schools, psychiatric hospitals, deaths under police custody, dowry deaths, and instances where the dead's family loses faith in the police.

Inquest Report

A report into the cause of death of a sudden, suspicious, or unnatural nature.
Consists of three parts: Head/preamble, Body, and Tail.
Head/preamble: Contains reference and particulars of the deceased (name, address).
Body: Contains a description of the death and the deceased, with opinions on the cause, nature, and manner of death.
Tail: Contains the signature of the investigating officer (IO), plus at least five witnesses' signatures (odd number).

Coroner's Inquest

Conducted by coroners (advocates, attorneys, or magistrates with at least five years of experience).
Empowered by the government to investigate sudden, suspicious, and unnatural deaths in Sri Lanka and Mumbai, India.

Medical Examiners System

Conducted by board-certified or eligible medical examiners.
Examiners visit crime scenes, investigate deaths, determine cause and nature, prepare inquest reports, and perform autopsies.
Considered the most reliable system as one person handles the entire process, minimizing errors.
Prevalent in parts of the USA, Canada, and Japan.

Chalan

A government-issued tabulated and printed form.
Contains information about the deceased and death, prepared by the IO.
Uses a 10-column format.
More important than an inquest report because it's a tabulated government form.

Medico-Legal Systems

Types include continental, coroner's, medical examiners, and procurator fiscal systems.

Exhumation

The authorized digging up of a buried body.
Procedures include requisition from a magistrate or court, identifying the graveyard, specific grave, and confirming grave identification before opening it.

Exhumation Process

Magistrate, doctor, and police officer must be present.
Doctor's standing direction of wind, and collected soil from all around the body.
Photographing the body before removal.
Dead body identification to be confirmed by relatives or friends.
Autopsy to be conducted at the morgue or at the grave site, as directed by a magistrate.

Medico-Legal Importance of Exhumation

Establishing the cause of death.
Determining the nature of death.
Confirming the identity of the deceased.
Recovering documents buried with the body

Scene of Crime

The location where a crime has been committed.
Vital for crime investigation.
Includes cause of death/injury identification and accused identification.
Members of the scene-of-crime team include a doctor, investigation officer, fingerprint expert, and photographer.