SEMESTER- V
RESPIRATORY MODULE WEEK- 02
AUTOPSY-III BY DR.SONOMAL RATNANI
FORENSIC MEDICINE & TOXICOLOGY DEPARTMENT
LECTURE OUTLINES:
EXHUMATION DIS-INTERNMENT RE-POSTMORTEM
Exhumation
--Disinterment
--Re-Postmortem
To remove the earth
To take out buried body
--- Re-Examination of Dead-body
DEFINITION
An exercise of re-examination of dead body by digging out the grave, for legal purposes.
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OBJECTIVES
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TO,
Identify.
Rule out/confirm foul play.
Verify any new evidence.
Know the cause of death.
Fulfill requirements of an appeal.
PLANNED OPERATION
STEP – I
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Exhumation order/permission to perform Re-examination
After
Application by an affected person.
Pointing out any flaw by police/any other.
STEP – II
Pre-Exhumation Meeting
 Board
 Magistrate & SHO/IO
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Step III
Exhumation Day
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Examining MO/Board
Magistrate
Police
Mortuary Staff
EXHUMATION TEAM WITH PROPER DRESS &
EQUIPMENT
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STEP IV
Digging of grave.
Removing of earth.
In suspected poisoning earth samples are collected.
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Above
Below
On sides
Control
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STEP V
 Disinterment of Dead body.
 Exposing the coffin.
 Identification of coffin.
 Photographs.
 Samples from inside the coffin/debris-fluid.
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Step VI. Autopsy
Complete Autopsy
Photographs
X-Rays
Injuries
Fractures, Hyoid bone, Ribs & Skull
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Samples for analysis
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Viscera
Hair
Teeth
Bone
Skin
Nail
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STEP- VII
Re-Burial.
Closing the grave.
Departure with the team.
Preparation of provisional report.
Presentation & Dispatch of samples.
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AVOID
Disinfectants
Torn Gloves.
Immediate exposure to gases.
Artifacts.
Post-mortem damages.
Fractures / separate bones.
Security hazard
• THORAX
 By opening both cavities i.e. thorax and abdomen, we are able to see the level of
diaphragm through the abdomen. In the thorax we mention routinely as follow:
 Thorax opened by midline incision.
 Bony cage is intact. If there is fracture of clavicle or ribs, clearly mention them.
 Ribs and Sternum are divided at sterno-clavicular junction and costo-chondral junction of
Ribs and Sternum.
Heart is separated by holding it at its apex and cutting the Aorta and pulmonary vessels
as far away from the base of the heart as possible. Inspect the heart for size and weight.
Examination of HEART