Open AccessMulti-disciplinary Medico-legal Approach and Challenges in Interpretation of Injury from an Amputated Hand: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Jenash Acharya,
Sailesh Pradhan,
Sandesh Maskey
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nepal medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2645-8438
pISSN - 2645-842X
DOI - 10.37080/nmj.24
Subject(s) - medicine , physical examination , amputation , histopathological examination , officer , general surgery , surgery , medical emergency , law , pathology , political science
Among various duties of any medico-legal expert, responsibility of Injury Examination Report preparation is encountered routinely in his/her career. Among various challenges faced by the examiner, documenting the injuries becomes exigent when s/he is acquainted with artifact like therapeutic alteration of the injury produced in victim.
We report a case of a victim of electric injuries sustained over both his upper limbs. The requisition to prepare an Injury Examination Report was received from investigating officer a month after the incident. On examination of the patient, the challenge faced was that the injured limbs were amputated a day before the examination, and his body showed no other injuries. An urgent consultation with plastic surgeon revealed that the amputated body part was sent for histopathology analysis. A report was prepared from a formalin soaked amputated bilateral hands in pathology department and handed over to the investigating officer.
Keywords: amputation; electric injury; injury examination report; medico-legal.