Issues Impacting the Reliability, and Authenticity of Medical Evidence relating to Post-Mortem Examination in a Trial

Abstract

Post-mortem is a scientific examination conducted post-death in order to find out the cause of death as well as the traces of the perpetrator of the crime if it is homicidal. This examination gives a direction to investigative machinery to start its investigation to find and prosecute the accused and exonerate the innocent accused in the case. Additionally, it is complicated as well, depending upon various essential and important factors, which are vital for the admissibility of medical evidence in a criminal trial and this article focuses on these issues. These essentials factors include the performance of examination only by a registered autopsy surgeon or pathologist; who is an expert in the knowledge of diseases, the carrying out of a detailed and careful examination; on the crime scene and in the mortuary, preparation of the factual and objective medico-legal report; which is free from personal feelings and opinions of the medical expert.