A study of medico legal profile of fatal burn cases in Mumbai region

Since ancient time fire is both boon and bane for mankind. Invention of fire was greatest invention towards the human civilization. Fire was perhaps, first double edged sword, it serves as well as destroys life and property. Burn is an injury which is produced by the application of dry heat such as flames, radiant heat or heated substances and corrosive chemicals to the body. By law all heat lesions have been designated as burns. Burn injuries are among the most devastating of all injuries and a major global public health crisis.

The profile of 150 cases of fatal burns was studied in Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, during the period of two years from October 2012 to September 2014. The study includes all the referred brought dead burn cases from the concerned revenue division and admittedburn injury cases that subsequently died in the hospital coming to the mortuary for autopsy. The main objective of study is to know the medico legal aspects of various types of fatal burns cases. In addition to this the study also aims at understanding and analysing magnitude of relevant socio-culture and epidemiological factors associated to find the pattern and causes of death in different type of burn cases.