Medico-Legal Aspects of Death and Autopsy Procedures

Civil Personality

Extinguished by death, affecting legal rights.

Property Transmission

Occurs to heirs at the time of death.

Criminal Liability

Extinguished by the death of the individual.

Death

Cessation of life in a living organism.

Cellular Death

Cessation of respiration and metabolic activities.

Somatic Death

Complete cessation of vital functions and awareness. This individual will never again communicate or deliberately interact with the environment.

Coma

Unrousable unresponsiveness lasting over 6 hours.

Vegetative State

Wakefulness without awareness; sleep-wake cycle preserved.

Minimally Conscious State

Severely altered consciousness with minimal awareness.

Brain Death

Irreversible end of all brain activity.

Neurological Testing Preconditions

Criteria to confirm irreversible brain function loss.

Clinical Tests

Assess loss of consciousness and brainstem reflexes.

Laboratory Tests

Include EEG and brain blood flow assessments.

Apnea

Absence of spontaneous respiration despite CO2 drive.

Algor Mortis

Cooling of the body post-death; not uniform.

Glaister Formula

Estimates time of death using rectal temperature.

Cooling Rate Factors

Affected by body mass, temperature, and environment.

Signs of Death

Include cessation of heart action and respiration.

Cessation of Metabolic Processes

Heat production stops, leading to body cooling.

Pupillary Light Reflex

Absent in brain death; pupils mid-position.

Corneal Reflex

Absent in brain death; indicates loss of function.

Gag Reflex

Clinical criteria absent in brain death; indicates brainstem failure.

Cerebral Unresponsiveness

Deep coma with no voluntary movements.

Persistent Condition

Lasting 6 to 24 hours for death confirmation.

Etiology of Brain Injury

Must be established for neurological testing.

Hypothermia

Precondition to Neurological testing is the absence of something related to temperature

Electrolyte Disturbances

Clinically significant conditions must be absent.

Spinal Reflexes

May still occur despite cerebral unresponsiveness.

Cerebral Metabolic Activity

Absence indicates severe brain dysfunction.

Post-Mortem Caloricity

Temperature increase due to putrefaction.

Rigor Mortis

Post-mortem muscle stiffness due to ATP depletion.

Cadaveric Spasm

Instantaneous rigidity of muscles post-death.

Secondary Flaccidity

Muscle relaxation after rigor mortis subsides.

Post-Mortem Clot

Soft blood clot that can be layered.

Ante-Mortem Clot

Firm, homogenous blood clot formed before death.

Post-Mortem Lividity

Blood pooling in dependent body areas.

Hypostatic Lividity

Lividity due to gravity affecting blood flow.

Decomposition

Breakdown of body tissues after death.

Putrefaction

Destruction of tissues by microorganisms.

Marbling

Branching pattern of decomposition visible on skin.

Adipocere

Waxy substance formed from body fat decomposition.

Mummification

Drying of body in warm, ventilated environments.

Time of Death

Estimated period when death occurred.

Forensic Autopsy

Legal examination to determine cause of death.

Clinical Autopsy

Audit to evaluate treatment and disease understanding.

Lactic Acid

Produced during anaerobic respiration in muscles.

Temperature Effects

Heat accelerates, cold delays rigor mortis.

Factors Affecting Cooling

Clothing, room size, ventilation, and temperature.

Green Discoloration

First sign of putrefaction at right iliac fossa.

Pugilistic Attitude

Post-mortem posture due to heat exposure >75 celsius

Blister Formation

Occurs during decomposition with red or brown fluid.

Bloating

Swelling of soft tissues post-death.

Purging

Fluid leakage from mouth and nose during decomposition.

Factors Affecting Decomposition

Temperature, humidity, burial conditions, and scavengers.

Fixed Lividity

Lividity becomes permanent after 18 hours.

Time of Rigor Mortis

Begins 3-6 hours, lasts 2-3 days.

Lividity Appearance

Dull red or purplish color in skin.