1Assistant Professor, Dept of Forensic Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, Thane, Maharashtra
2Associate Professor, Dept of Forensic Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, Thane, Maharashtra
3Associate Professor, Dept of Community Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, Thane, Maharashtra
*Corresponding author: Dr Mangesh R Ghadge, MD, DFM Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, Thane, Maharashtra, 400605. Email ID: dr.mangesh.ghadge@gmail.com Mob no: 09594975245
Online published on 16 August, 2018.
Unclaimed body refers to a person who dies in a hospital, prison or public place, and who has not been claimed by any near relatives or personal friends within such time period as may be prescribed. Such unknown people are exposed to increased incidence of diseases, accidents and mortality. Thane city situated in western region of India, is surrounded by rural towns and villages and has seen tremendous growth in the past few years; with increase in job opportunity, the problem of migrants and homelessness and thus unknown death has also increased.
A retrospective study was conducted in department of Forensic medicine, of a tertiary care institute during the period from January 2011 to December 2015, which includes 297 unknown deceased persons brought for autopsy.
During the period of 5 years, 297(10.74%) cases out of a total 2870 autopsies were unknown and unclaimed persons. The present study demonstrated preponderance of male victims and major bulk of the victims belonged to age group 31–40 years. Most of the people affected were beggars or destitute, majority of whom died from diseases like chronic infective lung diseases (n=92, 55.42%), most commonly tuberculosis (n=59, 19.87%).
The findings of our study indicate that lack of shelter is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the study area and natural causes are major cause for unknown deaths
Unknown, unclaimed, natural, identification, cause of death
