RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES CONDUCTED AT KHAWAJA MUHAMMAD SAFDAR MEDICAL COLLEGE SIALKOT

Background: Autopsy is performed to establish the manner and cause of death, and can help the authorities to implement effective protective measures against crime. Objective of this study was to determine manner, cause, gender predominance and target age group of medico-legal autopsies in government hospitals of Sialkot. Methods: Data for this retrospective cross-sectional study was collected from autopsy registers of Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital and Sardar Begum Hospital of Sialkot for the years 2018–2022. The data was entered in self-made proforma and analysed using SPSS-20. Results: The autopsies were done on 77.5% males and 22.5% females. The most sensitive group was 21–30 (25.6%) followed by 31–40 (20.5%). Out of 512 deaths, 290 were homicidal deaths, 105 (56.4%) were accidental, 66 (20.50%) were suicidal, 27 (12.89%) deaths with undetermined method, and 24 deaths were found to be natural. Firearm was the cause of deaths in 66.20% cases followed by blunt weapons in 11.37% cases, and penetrating injuries in 10.0% cases. Hanging was the most common cause of death among suicidal deaths (28.78%) and road traffic accident was the most common cause of accidental deaths (80.0%). Conclusion: Homicidal deaths are the most common deaths among unnatural deaths. Most commonly used weapon is firearm. There is male predominance. The most common target age group is 21–30 years. Pak J Physiol 2023;19(4):36–8