Scope of private practice in forensic medicine and toxicology

In this part of the world, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology are practised and taught either as a “State-oriented Subject” or as a “Service Subject”. The aim of writing this article is to initiate a debate on how private practice may be started in this specialty. The paucity of job opportunities, limited professional scope due to institutional restrictions and the resultant lack of job satisfaction coupled with a severely limited prospect of independent practice have together rendered bleak the future of our specialty. This state of affairs calls for intense introspection and a critical reappraisal of our professional options. One should not feel handicapped without a government job even after doing post graduation. Therefore certain basic skills must be developed and training for them must be incorporated in the three-year curriculum. At present, the professional skills developed are not sufficient to make a post-graduate independent in the field of private enterprise or self-employment. In this article, various fields within which private practice in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology can be undertaken have been discussed.