Standard operative procedures and auditing for poisoning cases in India

The article is aimed at uniformity in the work pattern related to medicolegal work including MLCs and postmortem examination in cases pertaining to toxicology. Standard operative procedure in toxicology would ensure that minimum criteria while examining cases with consumption of poison be followed while conducting the autopsy. An audit is a systematic analysis of quality of work with standard check-list. This can identify weak areas and can further improve the medicolegal work. For auditing the auditor should himself be clear of what points should be looked for. The paper gives guidelines for auditing the routine medicoleal work pertaining to toxicology related cases. In the present paper, all the major points that should be noted for a particular case of consumption of poison/intoxicant while conducting autopsies are included. This is inclusive of corroborating clinical signs and symptoms that are liable to be missed during such an examination. The paper provides with the check-list at the end and certain Do's and Don'ts in such type of medicolegal work. This would standardize the medicolegal work particularly in toxicological cases. These practices can be followed uniformally at district, primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitals Since this type of standard practices are not followed in India, the paper would be of benefit to autopsy surgeons and medical officers with deficient knowlegde and resources This would immensely improve the quality of medicolegal work and nonetheless prevent unecessary acuqital of criminals.