An Approach to Brought Dead Cases To Hospital-An Autopsy Based Study

Brought dead cases pose difficulties in determining cause of death. Though the Registration of Births and Deaths Act gives guidelines for doctor who has attended the person during his last illness, to issue to the cause of death; once a person is brought dead to the emergency of a hospital, it becomes a medicolegal case. This is conveniently bypassed in some cases. This questions the basic ethical principle of equality and justice. Again, some hospitals issue brought dead certificates and some release the body without a proper death certificate.

The present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the pattern of brought dead cases to the hospital, compare history given with the cause of death at postmortem examination, and understanding how the autopsy enhances the cause of death in cases in which it is not clear. The results showed a higher percentage of males (79.5%) than females (20.5%), and more in the age group 20–29 years (25.8%). There was a statistically significant correlation between history and cause of death. Natural cause, consistent with history of present illness, was seen in 12.9% cases; hidden, unnatural cause of death was seen in 2.3% of cases. New information, unknown previously, was found in 15.7% of cases. Unnatural cases comprised 51.5% of the total.

This article ends with algorithms based on the results which may help the State to execute its duty to protect its citizens and the citizens to be law abiding as well in an ethical and legally acceptable manner.