State Forensicon 2011 XVTh Annual Conference of Medico Legal Association of Maharashtra

Conference Dates : 20-21 august 2011 Chairman: Brig. Dr. S.Venkatramani	Conference Venue Red Hall, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni Dist:Ahmednagar
Organised By Dept of Forensic Medicine, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University,Loni Organising Secretary : Dr. K.D.Chavhan	Conference Secretariat Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College Loni-413736 Dist:Ahmednagar (Maharashtra State) India. Tel: +91-2422-73600 Fax: +91-2422-73413 Email:foernsicon2011@pmtpims.org

Executive Summary of the Conference

The interdependence and association of Law and Forensic Medicine has always been a boon to the society, resulting in numerous intriguing cases being correctly investigated, retaining the sanctity of the Judicial system. The role of Forensic Medicine fraternity in assisting the various national and state agencies in maintenance of law and order has been paramount.

Development of science has lead to criminals using newer and intriguing methods, necessitating the law enforcement agencies and Forensic Specialists to regularly update their knowledge and skills.

Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University) has always been in the forefront to “Promote, Provide and Assist Medical Knowledge and Holistic Healthcare for All”. Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College (RMC) of PIMS (DU) is the only private medical college in the state of Maharashtra having Govt. authorization to conduct medicolegal postmortems. It is also the only Private Medical College to run a MCI recognized M.D. (FMT) course in the state of Maharashtra. Medicolegal Association of Maharashtra, since its inception has been playing a key role in regularly upgrading the skills and knowledge of all concerned with maintenance of law and order and administration of justice. In continuance with its highest traditions the office bearers of Medico Legal Association of Maharashtra (MLAM) unanimously decided to hold its 15th Annual Conference under the aegis of PIMS (DU) at Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, Ahmednagar on 20th and 21st August 2011.

The theme of the conference was “Medicolegal Expertise – An Important Tool in Crime Investigation and Administration of Justice”

Medico Legal Association of Maharashtra intended to address the following issues by this conference:

1. To provide a conducive forum for Doctors, Judicial officers, Police officers, Lawyers and Forensic Scientists to discuss medicolegal problems faced by them.
2. To evaluate the existing policies and rules on various important medicolegal issues for any addition or amendments.
3. Guest lectures by senior members of the Judiciary, Police, Forensic Medicine and Bar on recent advances in the respective interrelated fields.
4. Interactive sessions, open forums to facilitate discussion between all stakeholders on important medicolegal issues.
5. To facilitate better inter departmental/organizational cooperation.

The conference received an over whelming response from all stake holder government departments. The conference was patronized by the Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Medical Council of India.

The delegates were doctors, lawyers, police officers by profession. Medical officers, specialists working in Govt. and private sector, apart from Forensic Medicine specialists from all medical colleges of Maharashtra participated in the conference. The total number of delegates registered for the conference was around Four hundred and Fifty (450). The Director Health Services, Govt. of Maharashtra deputed One hundred and Twenty Four (124) Medical Officers working in various Government hospitals, the Addl. Director General Police (Training and Special Units) deputed Eighty Six (86) Police officers (PSI to ACP) to attend the conference. One hundred and eighty seven (187) Forensic Faculty and Medical Practitioners also attended the conference, of which approximately 100 were deputed by the Director Medical Education and Research. Fourteen (14) officers were detailed by the Director, Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories, Maharashtra. We also received deputation of Twenty Five (25) District Govt. Pleader (DGP) from Law and Judiciary Dept.

The conference had a wide array of lectures delivered by renowned Forensic Faculty, Police Officers, Forensic Science Officers, lawyers coming from all over the country.

The Chief Guest of the inaugural function Dr. Pravin H Shingare, Director Medical Education and Research, Mumbai expressed his utmost satisfaction on all aspects of the event. Speaking on the occasion, he emphasized the importance of the Medicolegal expertise amongst all doctors for the better administration of justice. The Guest of Honour was Dr. M.V. Garad, Director, Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Maharashtra, the function was presided over by Hon. Dr. MG Takwale, Vice Chancellor, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni (Deemed University). Brig (Retd.) Dr. S. Venkatramani, Principal, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni welcomed one and all to Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni, a premier medical education institution in rural India and wished all delegates a informative and pleasurable stay.

A souvenir of the conference was released by the Chief Guest on the occasion. The guest of honour Dr MV Garad released a text book of Forensic Medicine, authored by Dr Rajesh Bardale.

Dr. VV Wase, President, MLAM thanked Dr P. H. Shingare and Dr. MV Garad for gracing the occasion by their august presence.

Dr. SD Nanandkar, General Secretary, MLAM, reiterated the relentless efforts of Medico Legal Association of Maharashtra for a Crime Free Society and Smooth administration of Justice. Dr RS Bangal, Joint Secretary, MLAM also expressed the initiatives taken by the organization for regular upgradation of knowledge and skill of all stake holders. Dr KD Chavan, Organizing Secretary of the conference, welcomed all the delegates and thanked Dr Pravin H Shingare DMER, Mumbai for the constant encouragement given to the medical fraternity to upgrade their skills.

The scientific sessions were relevent, with lectures by renowned experts in the field. A total of eight scientific sessions were conducted including Paper and Poster presentation. The scientific sessions were related to Clinical Forensic Medicine, Ethics and Etiquette, Recent advances in Forensic Medicine, Forensic Photography, Medical and Medicolegal Documentation and many more relevant and pertinent issues. The following scientific sessions were organized with eminent forensic faculty delivering their lectures during the same

Session I:

• Dr V.L.Deshpande (Ex DMER, Mumbai and Professor Emeritus and Head of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Dr Vitthal Rao Vikhe Patil Medical College, Ahmednagar ): Key Note Address – “Ethics and etiquettes in Medical Profession. He emphasized that a physician wishing to be successful practitioner among other things should respect the sanctity, of human life. He should subjugate self to that of patients. A physician with inherent love for humans and humanity, has to build his skills on the acquisition of skills, ethics and service.
• Dr O.P. Murthy (Additional Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS, New Delhi): “Oration on Recent Advances in Forensic Medicine”. He highlighted the need of Standard Operative Procedures for medico-legal work in Indian Scenario. The feasibility should be explored by undertaking multi-centric pilot studies for evolving these SOPs keeping in view rural, semi-urban and urban centers.

Session II

• Dr.S.A.Sami (Dean, MGM Medical College, Aurangabad): “Age determination in Medicolegal Cases”. He emphasized the requirement of assessment of age in different scenarios, and various Medicocolegal issues associated with them. The relevance of this important issue of clinical forensic medicine is pertinent to the medicolegal work done all over.
• Dr.C.S.Kapse (Prof and HOD, FMT, SNMC Bagalkot): “Examination of Victim of Sexual Assault”. The increase in incidence of sexual assaults and related crimes has been on a rise and the importance of it in the administration of justice is essential. A significant number of professionals in Law enforcement agencies are ill-trained to address the same. Dr Kapse discussed the topic lucidly and elaborated the role of Police officers, health care professionals in eliciting proper examination of the victim.
• Dr. Rajesh C. Dhere (Asso. Prof, FMT, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & General Hospital Sion, Mumbai.): “Examination of Injured Victim”. Occurrence of injuries is a daily phenomenon, and their medicolegal aspects are encountered by the health care professional, police and lawyers alike. It is imperative for all concerned to have adequate knowledge to facilitate the legal process. Dr Dhere, highlighted various important factors associated with examination of an injured victim, with emphasis on occurrence, classification, examination, interpretation and drafting of an injury report.

Session III

• Dr. S.D.Nanandkar (Prof and HOD, Grant Medical College, Mumbai): “Medico-Legal Policy for the State of Maharashtra”. He elaborated the deficiencies in the existing policies and emphasized the requirement of redrafting the policy and including numerous new issues which are pertinent to the present social scenario.
• Dr. V.V.Pillay (Prof FMT, Head Poison Control Unit, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi): “DNA Fingerprinting- A Modern Tool in Crime Investigation”. He elaborated the history of evolution of DNA typing to its present indispensible state of in Forensic Medicine. Its utility in matching Suspect with Evidence, Paternity Testing, Missing Persons Investigation, mass disasters, pinpointing an offender from DNA database is unquestionable. He discussed various pertinent point which will assist the Police Officers in collection of evidence at the crime site
• Dr. A.G. Wankhede (Prof Dept of Forensic Medicine, Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College, Narhe, Pune): “Forensic Photography: Resolving dilemma in Medicolegal Cases”

Session V

• Dr.A.C. Mohanty (Professor FMT, Terna Medical College, Nerul, Mumbai): “Medical Negligence & CPA- New Horizon in Indian Law”. Inclusion of Medical profession under the ambit of Consumer Protection Act has been a significant development which has changed the dynamics of Physician Patient relationship. The various issues of medical negligence and how they are dealt with in the light of CPA were lucidly elaborated by Dr Mohanty.
• Dr. Rajendra Bangal (Professor FMT, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Rural Medical College, Loni) : “Medical and medico-legal Documentation- Current Practice and Need of Change”. He elaborated that a significant number of medical malpractice suits are rendered indefensible by problems with the medical records. Similarly a significant number of criminal trials result in acquittal due to improper and incomplete medicolegal reports. The importance of records is accentuated by the fact that a bad record cannot lead to conviction, regardless of the facts and regardless of the standards of medicolegal examination and similarly in criminal trials, the medicolegal document will be the most important evidence regardless of the facts. Every document authored by a doctor in his/ her professional capacity has some or the other medicolegal significance at some time or the other. The lecture resolved numerous queries the audience had on this important issue.
• Dr. Nikhil Gupta (IAS) (Deputy Director, Maharashtra Police Academy, Nashik) : Role of Police Investigation in Cases of Medical Negligence”. He enthralled the audience with his presentation on “Law and Medical Negligence- The Judicial View”. Discussion of this very important issue in light of numerous pertinent court judgments would benefit all members of the medical fraternity in taking a proper approach in patient care.

Session VI

• Dr. M.D.Karmarkar (Professor Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Bharti Vidya Peeth, Pune).: “Autopsy Protocol in Cases Of Medical Negligence”. Occurrence of medical negligence is an event during doctor patient relationship. It is associated with medical intervention rather than with the condition for which the intervention occurred. The autopsy surgeon plays a very important role in these cases.
• Dr. S.S.Chandekar (Assistant lecturer at Grant Medical College, Mumbai): “Second Autopsy: Procedure and Protocol”. The issue of second autopsy following first autopsy is a very significant and controversial issue which confronts the medicolegalist. The various aspects which need to be kept in mind while conducting such examination.
• Dr. P.G.Dixit (Professor & HOD of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and Vice Dean at Govt. Medical College, Nagpur): “Collection, Preservation and Dispatch of Biological Evidence Material to FSL”. Collection of Forensic Evidence is to be done very meticulously ensuring maintenance of chain of custody as well as ensuring proper collection, preservation and dispatch of evidence. It is of paramount importance that the issue is addressed properly to ensure deliverance of justice.

Session VII

• Dr. Pradeep Kumar (Professor and Head of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and Associate Dean, KMC Mangalore: “Wound Ballastics-Challenges in Interpretation”. He gave lucid presentation on “Wound Ballistics-Challenges in Interpretation”. He highlighted the difficulties in interpretation of gun shot injuries and the factors influencing the same. It is imperative on the part of all agencies involved to carefully observe and interpret wounds to assist in administration of justice.
• Dr. S.C.A.D.Sapeco (Professor and Head, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Panji, Goa) : “Quality Control in Medicolegal Cases at Institutional Level”. Requirement of quality control to deliver the best services in vogue to the client is the need of the hour in all professions and those involved in medicolegal work are equally responsible for the same. The application of this issue is still nascent in the medicolegal stream. He pointed out the importance of quality control in issuance of various documents like Sickness, Fitness, Death, Injury certificate etc and Postmortem reports.
• Dr.K.U.Zine (Associate Professor and Head, Govt. Medical College, Aurangabad): “Problems in Night Postmortems”. Insistence of the Investigating Officer as a result of circumstance or otherwise on doing of night postmortems results in occurrence of various issues. Improper light, fatigue, error of judgment results in wrong interpretations at times. The topic brought into light a very important issue confronting the medicolegal experts today.

The lectures by all speakers were lucid and comprehensible. All key members involved ie Police officers, Medico-legal experts, Forensic science laboratory officers, Judicial officers and Lawyers benefited from the same.

Session IV was paper and poster presentation by forensic faculty and postgraduate students. In all fifty (50) papers were presented in both the categories. The papers presented by the postgraduate students were evaluated by the chair persons and the best papers were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in the memory of Late Dr. M.S Vable, former Prof & Head, BJ Medical College, Pune. The following papers were awarded

• Ist Prize: Dr Pawan Wankhede for paper titled - Postmortems of Fatal Long Standing Hospital admitted Cases, An Overburden for the Medico Legal Experts.
• IInd Prize: Dr Shailesh Kumar for paper titled - Cardiac Tamponade following twin ruptures of Myocardium – a Case Report.
• IIIrd Prize: Dr Sunny Khandare for paper titled – Disaster Management in Mortuary.

One of the highlight of the conference was Open Forum with acclaimed Senior members of Police, Law and Judiciary, Forensic Science Laboratory and Forensic Medicine forming the panel of experts. Dr MV Garad, Adv Rishikesh Ganu, Adv Dilip Patil Bankar, ACP Shri Nilesh Sawant, Dr SD Nanandkar and Dr SC Mohite answered the queries of the audience. The audience (including Police officers, Lawyers and Doctors) availed this opportunity enthusiastically and discussed in details the various issues confronted by them and the experience gathered during everyday working.

The conference offered an opportunity for all those involved in law enforcement and administration of Justice to discuss the issues confronting them, and to evolve new and lasting solutions.