1Junior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine, GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
3Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
4Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Karan Pramod, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, E-mail: karanthekp@gmail.com Contact: +919878987826
Online published on 27 May, 2025.
Multiple skin disorders that produce lesions or patterns that mimic injuries with no present or past medical records pose a challenge to forensic experts. A systematic approach to distinguishing between mechanical injury and skin disease leads to an unnecessary panel of forensic investigations, a delay in formulating the actual cause of death, and undue stress to the family of the deceased. Multiple expert opinions are required from other scientific and medical fields to conclude the investigation.
A 35-year-old female brought for autopsy under suspicion of a ligature mark over her neck after an alleged quarrel with family members, was found to have no infiltration underneath on dissection, and combined opinions from histopathology, microbiology and dermatology departments prepared and revealed an unforeseen cause of death.
The forensic autopsy surgeon has to take multiple expert opinions at times when suspicion of foul play and unknown circumstantial evidence exists to conclude the cause of death and aid in justice.
Skin Lesion, Injury, Acanthosis Nigricans, Fungal Infection, Antemortem
