Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Students on Forensic Autopsy in Ahmedabad City

This study explored medical students’ knowledge and attitude on the medico-legal autopsy demonstrations which formed part of their training in Forensic Medicine. 200 students studying 2^nd MBBS 2^nd and 3^rd semesters where they taught Forensic Medicine participated in the study voluntary. The students were asked to respond anonymously to a 13 items questionnaire which dealt with their views on the autopsy practice, the knowledge of the procedure, attitude and perception towards medico legal autopsy. In present study majority of the students were aware of the situations where medico legal postmortem examination is mandatory as per Indian law and taking out of viscera for chemical analysis and histo pathological examination for the purpose of medico-legal autopsy. 96.5% of the students agreed that autopsy is necessary in medical education. 32.30% of the students were very uncomfortable on the first exposure to postmortem examination. This study showed that medical students still appreciate the medico-legal autopsy demonstration as a learning experience.