(i) GOAL :
          
          The broad goal of the teaching of undergraduate students in Forensic Medicine is to produce a physician who is well informed about medicolegal responsibility in practice of medicine. He/She will also be capable of making observations and inferring conclisions by logical deductions to set enquiries on the right track in criminal matters and connected medicolegal problems. He/She acquires knowledge of law in relatopn to medical practice, medical negligence and respect for codes of medical ethics, and to prepare him to be a teacher of Forensic Medicine.

(ii) OBJECTIVES :

(a) KNOWLEDGE :
     At the end of the course, the student shall be able to:
(1) Identify the basic medicolegal aspects of hospital and general practice;
(2) Define the medicolegal responsibility of a general physician while rendering community  
     service either in a rural primary health centre or an urban health centre;
(3) Appreciate the physician’s responsibilities in criminal matters and respect for the codes  
     of medical ethics;
(4) Diagnose, manage and identify legal aspects of common acute and chronic poisonings;
(5) Describe the medicolegal aspects and findings of post-mortem examination in case of
     death due to common unnatural conditions and poisonings;
(6) Detect occupational and environmental poisoning, prevention and epidemiology of
     common poisoning and their legal aspects particularly pertaining to Workmen’s
     Compensation Act;
(7) Describe the general principles of analytical toxicology.

(b) SKILLS :       
     At the end of the course, the student shall be able to:
(1) Make observations and logical inferences in order to initiate enquiries in criminal matters
     and medicologal problems;
(2) Diagnose and treat common emergencies in poisoning and manage chronic toxicity;
(3) Make observations and interprets findings at postmortem examination;
(4) observe the principles of medical ethics in the practice of his profession;
(5) To learn how to handle cases of sexual assaults;
(6) To be able to prepare medicolegal reports in various medicolegal situations;
(C) INTEGRATION :
      Department shall provide an integrated approach towards allied disciplines like
       Pathology, Radiology, Forensic Science, Hospital Administration etc. to impart training
      regarding medicolegal responsibilities of physicians at all levels of health care.
      Integration with relevant disciplines will provide scientific basis of clinical toxicology
      e.g. medicine, pharmacology etc.

(D) CURICULUM :
PART (A) : GENERAL
01. History of Forensic Medicine, Definition of Forensic Medicine & its scope.
02. Legal procedure in India. 
03. Personal identification : Identification of living & dead. Examination & reconstruction of
      skeletal remains.
04. Death : definition, its diagnosis and changes after death.
05. Sudden natural death & dowry deaths.
06. Postmortem examination – special reference to its objectives.
07. Mechanical injuries.
08. Firearm injuries. 
09. Medicolegal aspects of wound.
10. Regional injuries – special reference to head and chest.
11. violent  asphyxia deaths: Drawing and sexual asphyxia.
12. Road traffic accidents.
13. Injuries and death from physical agents : burns & scalds : electricity : radiation.
14. Starvation.
15. Medicolegal aspects of sexual functions : virginity, pregnancy & delivery : impotence &
     sterility : artificial insemination : sterilization : sexual offences : abortion ; legitimacy;
    divorce and nullity of marriage.
16. Infanticide:
17. Blood stains & blood groups (its medicolegal aspects), semen.
18. Medicolegal aspects of Surgical & Anaesthetics practice.
19. Forensic Psychiatry Restraints of insance, true & false insanity; criminal & civil
      responsibilities of insane.
20. Medical ethics and law : Moral principles regulating the medical practice-professional
     misconducts, professional secrecy, privileged communication, consent & informed
     consent : Medical Councils and their functions, negligence (medical) – types, civil
     liability and negligence.

PART (B) : TOXICOLOGY 
01. General consideration about toxicology.
02. Corrosive poisons.
03. Metallic irritant poisons: arsenic, lead, thallium, mercury, iron, aluminium, copper.
05. Deliriants : Dhatura, Cannabis, Cocaine.
06. Inebrient poisons : ethyl and methyl alcohol, medicolegal aspects of alcoholism &
      drunkenness.
07. Snake bite and scorpion bite.
08. Narcotics : opium & its alkaloids (morphine particularly)
09. Drug addition & drug abuse-special reference to Forensic Pathology.
10. Cardiac poisons : digitalis, quinine, nicotine, aconite.
11. Gaseous poisons : carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocyanic, MIC, hydrogen
      sulphide gas.
12. Petrolium distillates : kerosence, benzene.
13. Insecticide & weed killer (paraquat)
14. Therapeautic agents : aspirin, paracetamol, insulin, pethidine, barbiturates, tranquilisers.
15. Spinal poisons : camphor, strychnine.          
 
 

Curriculum of M.D.

Curriculum of postgraduate training and examination pattern in M.D. (Forensic Medicine) of Bhavnagar University consists of the following.

1. A series of postgraduate lectures by P.G. teachers
2. A series of seminars by the P.G. student.
3. Postgraduate case discussion on Autopsy, Injuries insanity, Age Impotency, Social Offences, Poisoning etc.
4. Postgraduate tutorial classes – chapter or subject – wise.
5. Attending and performing medico legal autopsies.
6. Attending and performing medico legal work at the casualty.
7. Participation in undergraduate theory and practical teaching.
8. Undergoing training when posted in different units and laboratories of the department.
9. Short periods of posting in the departments of Psychiatry, Radiology, Pathology, Odontology, Anatomy, Biochemistry and Microbiology.
10. Pursuing the thesis work / dissertation work on the topic allotted by the P.G. teacher.
11. Participation in the departmental research work.
12. Visits to the scene of offence the be arranged by the professor with the help of police.
13. Attending the courts to give evidence.

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

Examination in M.D. (Forensic Medicine) consists of the following :

1. Four theory paper of 3 hours duration each as stated below.
(The theory paper may consist of multiple choice / short answer / essay type uestions)
A. Basic Medical Sciences in relation to Forensic Medicine. Including Anatomy / Physiology / Pathology.
B. Clinical Forensic Medicine including Forensic Psychiatry, Medical Jurisprudence, Medical Law and ethics.
C. Forensic Pathology including Thanatology, Autopsy Pathology and Forensic Immunology.
D. Recent advances, Toxicology & allied Forensic Medicine.
2. Clinical and Practical
3. Viva – voce

The practical and viva-voce examination may last for two days on the subjects
covered by the theory papers and the syllabus. This examination shall consists of
the following.
A. Autopsy examination.
B. Injury case examination.
C. Age case examination.
D. Insanity case examination.
E. Spot examination, reporting on microscope slides, skeletal remains, bones, x-ray plates, photographs, weapons and exhibits of medico legal importance.
F. A session with projected slides for spot diagnosis.
G. Expert opinion file.
H. A simple bacteriological exercise – identification of the bacteria. - Viva – voce shall cover all the sections in Forensic Medicine, Toxicology and allied subjects covered in theory papers and practical
examination.

PLEASE NOTE : The candidates are required to produce their records books of well documented medico legal autopsies and other medico legal case examination reports conducted / attended by them to the examiners at the time of practical examination.