Analysis of Autopsy Justifications by Medical Boards in Relation to the Manner and Cause of Death

Cureus. 2025 May 3;17(5):e83432. doi: 10.7759/cureus.83432. eCollection 2025 May.

ABSTRACT

Background Autopsies serve a crucial role in elucidating ambiguous deaths, thereby providing legal clarity, wherein autopsy surgeons fulfill an indispensable function in ascertaining the manner of death, classified as natural, accidental, homicidal, suicidal, or indeterminate. Medical Board autopsies, which involve a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, yield a superior standard of medico-legal examination and are esteemed by judicial authorities. However, the extensive time and resources necessitated by these autopsies limit their application to atypical cases. There exists a salient requirement to rigorously assess the rationale behind Medical Board autopsies concerning the associated manner and causation of death. Methodology An observational analysis of a retrospective nature was performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, assessing autopsy documentation between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2020. A comprehensive review of 262 Medical Board autopsies was performed through consecutive sampling, evaluating post-mortem reports, police/magistrates’ inquests, histopathological findings, biological samples, and toxicological analyses, among other relevant documents. Results Out of the 262 cases examined, 67.9% (178) of Medical Board autopsies were necessitated by custodial deaths, while 12.6% (33) arose from law enforcement exigencies. Natural causes led to 59.9% (157) of deaths, with unnatural causes contributing to 40.1% (105) of deaths. In categorizing unnatural deaths, it was noted that homicides were 49.5% (52), accidents represented 21.9% (23), suicides constituted 17.2% (18), and suspected medical negligence accounted for 7.6% (eight). Conclusion The outcomes underscore the necessity for transparent, standardized protocols governing the allocation of Medical Board autopsies, ensuring their deployment in circumstances demanding impartial, high-quality medico-legal evaluation, particularly in custodial deaths, allegations of malpractice, and cases anticipated to engage judicial scrutiny. Policymakers ought to emphasize resource distribution, establish objective criteria for Medical Board engagement, and formulate protocols to enhance both the efficacy and integrity of medico-legal investigations.

PMID:40329972 | PMC:PMC12051788 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.83432