Torture leading to suicide – A case report

Medical profession is probably the one which is most likely to be confronted with torture victims. However the degree of awareness of the medical fraternity regarding torture and their role in it, is not effectively rendered as it should be have. The responsibility of a doctor does not cease only in prescribing treatment for the afflicted persons. In this article we have reported one case which was brought for autopsy with the allegation that he was an eyewitness for the murder and deceased was taken to the police station and beaten by the policemen in connection with the murder case. At the time of release, he was threatened for not telling truth and again he will be beaten o next day if doesn't tell the fact regarding the case. Afraid of possible torture, the deceased consumed poison on the next day morning. Thereafter he was admitted to Kasturba Hospital Sevagram where he died during treatment. His family member's made an allegation that, he was illegally taken into police custody where he was unnecessarily tortured and it was because of this torture, he was mentally upset and had consumed poison. Autopsy findings along with the findings of medical records are presented here.