A forensic autopsy is a progression of tests and examinations performed on the body to decide the cause of damage and additionally to recognize any illness that may have caused or resulted in death.
This inner and outside test/examination is finished by a measurable pathologist who has been especially prepared to perceive examples of damage, gather proof and research the conditions encompassing the demise.
Through toxicology (drugs), anthropology (bone) and entomology (blood, urine, organs) analysis is carried out. During a measurable post-mortem examination, it is important to altogether look at the body just as the inward organs. It is also known as ‘medico legal work’.
It plays a vital role in solving the complexed and difficult crime cases, not every death gets an autopsy, only coroner decides which body needs to be examined in order to check the real cause of victim’s death and through this legal procedure, the court or law enforcement agencies reach to the culprit. It also helps estimate the time of the crime.
Also, extraordinary tests are performed to check for the nearness irresistible maladies, liquor, as well as medications. The biochemical indicators and pathogens in the body can be deduced and analyzed for the investigation.
Due to autopsy, not only a criminal is served a justice but an innocent suspect can be exempted and it is also helpful for insurance companies, whether or not the death is plotted by the dead. As every field in today’s world is evolving and getting modern, so forensic science is no less.
Now days the advancements in crime solving seem like science thriller movies, where a crime case can be solved with little effort and thrill be it assessment of direction of bullets from the combination of tiny glass pieces in the body with the help of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) or seeing the bruises even before it is visible to the skin with the help of Alternative Light Photography.
Among these, the new technology or breakthrough is genetic substances’ in-vitro replication by utilization of molecular tools. It allows the use of benefits of molecular genetics in forensic investigations, and it provides the authentic data of corpse for the reason of death.
There are bunches of advantages to having a forensics autopsy. For families, it can help guarantee them that their loved one got appropriate restorative treatment, and it might reveal hereditary or ecological reasons for illness that could influence other relatives.
For the therapeutic network, post-mortems can affirm the rightness of the analysis and the suitability of the medicinal treatment. Post-mortems are likewise used to instruct specialists, attendants, inhabitants, and understudies.
For society all in all, post-mortems help survey new medicines, assess new demonstrative tests, examine natural and word related maladies, and set up legitimate mortality insights. New diseases keep on giving the idea that must be completely examined via autopsy.
Forensic autopsy can contaminate the surroundings with infections and bacteria from the dead’s tissues. Such bacteria come from the extreme chemicals used to preserve the corpse or save the autopsy’s equipment from getting germs from the environment, and this turns out to be hazardous for the forensic coroners.
An exposure to X- rays for detecting the bone fractures or bullets is also perilous for the physicians. Despite taking all kind of precautionary measures like gloves, surgical masks, shades, protectors, there is always a risk of danger. It is also emotionally disturbing for some pathologists as it demands courage to encounter the disfigured corpse.
Author: Amber Naz , Aroma Shahid, Department of Biotechnology, Kinnaird College For Women