*Cause of death in cases of poisoning: Doctor's dilemma

This paper deals with some of the dilemmas facing an autopsy surgeon when confronted with a case of poisoning fatality. Generally, autopsy findings are not specifically diagnostic for poisoning in most of the cases. Chemical analysis, which can give conclusive results, is unfortunately subject to inordinate delays due to various reasons. When finally the report does arrive, it may transpire that the analysis did not reveal the presence of any poison. In such cases, furnishing an opinion relating to the cause of death becomes problematic. Though the death can be certified as having occurred from unknown or undetermined causes, the police and judicial authorities, besides the insurance companies in insured cases, would not be satisfied and would like to be provided with an unequivocal cause of death. The question arises, can the autopsy surgeon furnish such an opinion? The answer surprisingly is yes. As to how this is possible in most cases forms the crux of this paper.