1Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Sector 32, Chandigarh. # 1206-A, Sector 32-B, Chandigarh - 160047.
2Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Sector 32, Chandigarh. # 1113, Sector 32-B, Chandigarh - 160047.
A six-year study (1994–1999) of total medico-legal autopsies conducted at Govt. Medical College, Chandigarh, revealed a continuous increase in deaths due to poisoning. Number of deaths due to poisoning which were placed third amongst all unnatural causes behind Road Side Accidents (RSA) & Burns till 1997, became second after RSA in 1998 & ultimately topped the list in the year 1999.
Poisoning deaths comprised 17.4% of total autopsies conducted during the said period Majority of victims belonged to most productive years of human lives i.e. Age group of 21–25 years (27.2%) & 15–20 years (21.3%) respectively. Contrary to popular belief, there was a clear-cut male preponderance over female; male: female ratio being 2.1: 1. The proportion of urban victim was roughly half to rural in all the years except in 1997. Aluminium Phosphide was found responsible for causing majority of deaths (38.9%) followed by alcohol (8.4%) & organo-phosphorus compounds (6.9%).
The intention of this study is to capture & interpret those trends & analyze various causative factors; so that further remedial measures can be suggested to curb this growing menace to human lives.
Medico-legal autopsies, Poisoning, Deaths, Aluminium Phosphide
