ABSTRACT

Medico-legal cases have increased in globally due to the acts of terrorism using weapons, poisons and other means resulting in tragic death.

Purpose: To determine the frequency, causes and manners of medico-legal autopsies in a tertiary care hospital in relation to age of victims.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methodology: Patients (n=186) were enrolled in present study held at Forensic department, Sheikh Zaid Hospital, Lahore-Pakistan. Cases were included irrespective of the age and gender in present study.

Statistical analysis: Data analyzed by SPSS 22.0v.

Results: Data showed almost 68% males while 32% females. There was correlation between age & cause of death by Asphyxia. In present study, main cause of death due to weapon turned out to be firearm (55%) followed by blunt objects (15.5%).

Conclusion: Mostly young males of our population were involved in medico-legal cases and criminal activities with homicidal and accidental deaths. Major cause of death remained to be firearms.

Keywords: Autopsy, Manner of Death and Cause of Death.