Procedure of exhumation forensic medicine.pptx

Procedure of exhumation

1. Medicolegal uses of exhumation Forensic Investigation Medical Examination Identification Cause of Death Review Inheritance Disputes

2. Procedure Detailed information about the alleged deceased and the clothes worn at the time of burial is necessary before starting exhumation. The body is exhumed under the supervision of a medical officer and Magistrate in the presence of a police officer . The Magistrate should inform the relatives of the deceased, and allow them to remain present at the enquiry (176(4) Cr.P.C .). The grave site should be positively identified. The distance of the grave from some of the permanent objects like trees, rocks, road or fence should be noted. It should be conducted in natural light.

3. The burial should be uncovered 10 to 15 cm at a time. Measure the depth of the grave from the surface to the skull and from the surface to the feet. Expose the body with the use of a soft brush or whisk broom. Corpse should be photographed in the position in which it was found. A drawing of the grave and body or skeleton should be made noting all the details. If decomposition is not advanced, a plank or a plastic or canvas sheet should then be lowered to the level of the earth on which the body rests, the body gently shifted on to planks or sheet and then removed from the grave.

4. If the body is disintegrated, remove all elements and place them in bags or boxes. If the body is skeletonised , after removing the remains, the soil must be sifted in a finely-meshed screen to recover smaller objects, e.g., teeth, bullets, etc. The condition of the burial clothes and the surface of the body should be noted. In cases of suspected mineral poisoning, samples of the earth (about half kg .) in actual contact with the body and also from above, below and from each side should be collected. The body should be identified by close relatives and friends. All personal effects, clothing, hair, nails, etc., should be picked up for examination.

5. PROFORMA FOR EXHUMATION INSTRUCTIONS : (1) Describe clothing. (2) Determine sex, age and stature. (3) Describe identifying marks if any. (4) Conduct autopsy in the routine manner and note all the findings. (5) Preserve viscera for chemical analysis. (6) Collect samples of earth (about half kg) from above, below and from each side of the body and any fluid or debris in the coffin. (7) If only skeleton is present, collect all bones and send them to the expert in sealed and labelled packets (8) The body should be handed over to the police after autopsy.
Requisition from............. Magistrate of ........... Vide his letter No.
Dated Letter No. Dated from ............ Of police of P.S..........
(1) Time of departure:
(2) Time of arrival at the place of burial:
(3) Persons present at exhumation (names and addresses):
(4) Persons identifying the place of burial (names and address:
(5) Description of the burial place and grave:
(6) Location: Breadth: Length:
7) Height: Covered with:
(8) Stone inscription if any:
(9) Inquest conducted by:
(10) Grave identified by:
(11) Officers present at the time of exhumation:

6. (12) Condition of soil of burial place and surrounding area:
(13) Grave digging started at:
(14) Samples of earth from (a) above, (b) below, and (c) within the coffin:
(15) Description of coffin if any:
(16) Body removed from the grave at:
(17) Description of clothes:
(18) Persons identifying the clothes (names and addresses):
(19) Persons identifying the body (names and addresses):
date........ P.M. Commenced at: P.M. Findings P.M. Concluded at:. Approximate time of death:. Opinion as to the cause of death:
Place: Signature:. Date: Name: Designation: