Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 1

Knowledge, attitude, and practice on medico-legal autopsy among undergraduate students in a medical college in Nashik, India: A cross-sectional analytical study

  • Author:
  • Tej Bahadur Chhetri1,*, T. Ramalingamma Chhetri2, Syed Meraj Ahmed3
  • Total Page Count: 10
  • Page Number: 45 to 54

1Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

3Assistant Professor, Consultant, Department of Community Medicine, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar

*Corresponding author. E-mail address: -drchhtj@gmail.com (Dr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri) Mob. No. 6358090637

Online published on 19 June, 2025.

Abstract

Forensic medicine integrates various medical disciplines, providing a holistic understanding of human anatomy, Physiology. Medico-legal autopsy is a crucial aspect of forensic medicine that plays a vital role in unraveling the mysteries surrounding suspicious deaths. This paper aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of medico-legal autopsy among medical students.

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was done among the 2nd and 3rdyear undergraduate Medical students.

A total of 159 (66.3%) participants out of 240 responded during the data collection. It was found that the male students (59.1%) are more in favor of in-depth study of Forensic Medicine than the females (40.9%). Further, statistically significant gender differences in positive responses were seen in issues such as autopsy skill training from 2nd year (M-19.5%), F-(20.1%)), active participation in performing autopsies (M-59.1% F-40.9%) and conducting an autopsy under observation should be a part of the internship (M-48.4%, F-39.6%) among other findings.

By integrating medical knowledge with legal and investigative skills, forensic medicine can provide a unique and rewarding career path for those interested in making a difference in both the medical and legal fields.

Keywords

Medico-legal autopsy, Medical Students, Undergraduate, Teaching