Medico legal study of drowning cases and diatoms

The present study comprised of 160 drowning cases studied during a two year period from March 2001 to February 2003. The Medico Legal autopsies were conducted in the Forensic Department of Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa. Only 80 cases could be studied for diatoms as the Investigating officers did not provide the water sample which was essential for comparison in the tissues. The highest diatom positive cases were noted in the water samples followed by in the lungs, liver, kidneys and brain respectively. The diatoms also showed seasonal variation both in salt and fresh water respectively.