Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, J. J. M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
Psychological autopsy is the procedure in which the psychological picture of the dead person is drawn by the experts who have never met the deceased any time, by collecting the necessary data from various sources. This is mainly used in situations called ‘equivocal death scenarios’ where there is doubt about the manner of death. This is widely practiced in western countries and accepted mainly in civil cases. In spite of all the weaknesses, it is a sincere effort by the experts to form scientific evidence in aid and administration of justice.
Psychological autopsy, equivocal death scenario, manner of death
