Riaz Qadeer, Anwar-ul Haq, Rizwan-ul Haq.
Medico Legal Importance of Post-mortem Interval (An autopsy based study).
Ophthalmol Update Jan ;14(4):181-4.

Background: Medico legal autopsy is a valuable source of information about cause of death and time since dead, the story can be reconstructed on scientific biases. Study design: This descriptive study is based on autopsy record and provides information regarding time since death and how to calculate this time. Duration of study: From 1st January 2013 to 23rd May 2013. Methodology: This study was conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology of Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. Data was collected from the record of autopsies performed from January 2013 to May 2013. It include all cases referred from urban as well as from rural area police stations of Peshawar district. Results: Out of total 400 autopsies 59 dead bodies (15%) were received for postmortem within 1 to 2 hours of death, 191 dead bodies (48%) were received within 3 to 12 hours of death, 137 dead bodies (34%) received within 13 to 24 hours of death and 13 dead bodies (3%) were sent for the required autopsy quite late. Conclusion: Quick referral of the dead along with required documents is important as it helps not only in calculating the time since death and helping in furthering justice by reconstructing the story on scientific bases. It also minimize the agony of the relatives by early burial of the dead in accordance with the injunctions of Islam.

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