EXHUMATION: A GATEWAY TO THE HIDDEN JUSTICE, FORENSIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TALE TO THE TRUTH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i1.1667Keywords:
Exhumation, Section 176 CrPC, Re-post mortem, Forensic, Physiology, AnatomyAbstract
Background: Exhumation is important in medico-legal investigations and is under debate since long for its usefulness. Critics also try to relate these with the religion and label it as destroying the human dead body as this is a belief that we don’t achieve desired results by exhumation. This study was carried out to assess the usefulness of exhumation and its outcome in our set-up and circumstances. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Ayub Teaching Hospital and supervised cases of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Total 27 cases were studied in a 2 year time. Medico-legal aspects were studied keeping in view the physiological process in the body and anatomical destruction after death. Results: We were able to detect cause of death in 53% cases (23% burning, 19% firearm, 4% drowning, and 7% cut-throat cases); 33% in 0–20 years, 45% in age group 20–40 years, 8% in 40–60 years, and 14% in >60 years. Major reason for doing exhumation was to find out the cause of death (in 47% cases), followed by identity and not doing initial post mortem in 19% cases, and re-autopsy in 15% of cases. Conclusion: Exhumation should be ordered and conducted as it helps the investigators in determining the reasons behind the death and solve the mystery in determining the cause of death after doing this procedure and aid in administration of justice.
Pak J Physiol 2025;21(1):84-6, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i1.1667
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Copyright (c) 2025 Omair Khan, Salma Shazia, Muhammad Atif Khan, Alruba Taimoor, Aftab Tanoli, Mashook Ali
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