Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

612 Pages·2016·7.5 MB·English

by  Vij Krishan.

Textbook of
Forensic Medicine
and Toxicology
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Textbook of
FFoorreennssiicc MMeeddiicciinnee
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Principles and Practice
Fifth Edition
Krishan Vij MD LLB
Head
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Bathinda, Punjab
Former Professor and Head
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh
Counsellor
Torture Medicine
ELSEVIER
A division of
Reed Elsevier India Private Limited
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Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 5/e
Krishan Vij
ELSEVIER
A division of
Reed Elsevier India Private Limited
Mosby, Saunders, Churchill Livingstone, Butterworth-Heinemann and
Hanley & Belfus are the Health Science imprints of Elsevier.
© 2011 Elsevier
First Edition 2001
Second Edition 2002
Third Edition 2005
Fourth Edition 2008
Fifth Edition 2011
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-81-312-2684-1
Medical knowledge is constantly changing. As new information becomes available, changes in treatment, procedures,
equipment and the use of drugs become necessary. The authors, editors, contributors and the publisher have, as far as
it is possible, taken care to ensure that the information given in this text is accurate and up-to-date. However, readers are
strongly advised to confirm that the information, especially with regard to drug dose/usage, complies with current
legislation and standards of practice.
Published by Elsevier, a division of Reed Elsevier India Private Limited.
Registered Office: 622, Indraprakash Building, 21 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110 001.
Corporate Office: 14th Floor, Building No. 10B, DLF Cyber City, Phase-II, Gurgaon-122 002, Haryana, India.
Managing Editor (Development): Shabina Nasim
Development Editor: Shravan Kumar
Manager – Publishing Operations: Sunil Kumar
Manager – Production: NC Pant
Typeset by Olympus Infotech Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India.
Printed and bound at xxx, India.
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To
the memory of my daughter
Divya Vij
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Foreword
In the present civilised society, every crime ought to be punished and a criminal must be taken to task. Investigators and those who
are engaged in the dispensation of justice require aid of an expert, who, by experience and knowledge, has acquired scientific tem-
perament and skill to unearth the crime. At the same time, with the aid of a forensic expert, an innocent can be saved from the
gallows. Dr. Krishan Vij, in this edition, has put a great effort to notice transformation of medical jurisprudence to clinical foren-
sic medicine. The present edition of Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology will be of great help not only to the under-graduate
and postgraduate students but to all those who are engaged in investigation of the crime and administration of justice, be it lawyers
or judges, and victims of violence and negligence.
The 5th edition of Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Dr. Vij has summoned the resources of science from all quarters.
Division of contents into segments, viz., (i) Of the Basics, (ii) Of the Dying and the Death, (iii) Of the Injured and the Injuries,
(iv) Clinical Forensic Medicine, (v) Legal and Ethical Aspects of Medical Practice, (vi) Forensic Toxicology, and placement of
illustrations, tables, flowcharts, etc. speak volumes of his experience and expertise spreading over about three decades. Chapters
on brain-stem death vis-à-vis organ donation; sudden and unexpected deaths; custody related torture and/or death; deaths associ-
ated with surgery, anaesthesia and blood transfusion; medicolegal examination of the living; complications of trauma (was wound-
ing responsible for death?); medical negligence; informed consent and refusal; and medicolegal aspects of immuno-deficiency
syndrome deserve extreme applause.
Exceptional features of this ensuing edition have been the presentation of cases clinching to the text and updation of information
in every segment. I am sure that the edition would serve as a guiding light for all concerned.
I wish Dr. Vij all success in his endeavour.

Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia
Judge
Punjab & Haryana High Court
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Preface to the 5th Edition
The rapid exhaustion of the last four editions reflects volumes of wide acceptance and popularity of the book, encouraging me to
bring about the 5th edition. The current edition reflects the meticulous work that has been done to revamp its predecessor. Based
on the feedback received from students, teachers, advocates and the judiciary, both Sections of the book (Forensic Medicine and
Forensic Toxicology) have been extensively revised with consequent deletion of outdated information and incorporation of the
new. Extensive placement of photographs, illustrations, tables and flowcharts has made this edition extremely catchy and easy
to grasp. Appearance of enormous references in the flow of the text is the result of extensive study and the period of toil and
turbulence through which I had to creep in. The integral thread of evidence-based description is seen running through the entire
content. Placement of precise information about the relevant legal provisions and forensic aspects of anatomical structures/findings
at appropriate places promote interdisciplinary understanding of issues.
Cases of extreme medicolegal significance, commensurating with the flow of the text, have been introduced to illustrate medi-
colegal principles and explore solutions to tackle problems usually encountered in day-to-day medicolegal work. And therefore,
the ensuing edition will be of immense help not only to undergraduates and postgraduates (the 'would be' medical practitioners/
experts), but also to wide segments of other professionals engaged in the administration of justice; be it prosecutors, defense
counsels, and of course, the judiciary.
User friendliness of the book is depicted in its lucid style, rational use of various levels of headings, subheadings and boldface
words. Presentation of ‘cases’ is an exceptionally interesting feature of the book helping the user to have an in-depth approach to
the intricacies of medicolegal issues.
Author’s view has always been that the modern time student should not be deprived of the fruits of recent information; therefore,
topics like Sudden and Unexpected Deaths; Deaths due to Asphyxia; Deaths Associated with Surgery, Anaesthesia and Blood
Transfusion; Custody Related Torture and/or Death; Medicolegal Examination of the Living; Injuries by Firearms; Complications
of Trauma: Was Wounding Responsible for Death?; Medical Education via-à-vis Medical Practice; Medical Negligence; Consent
to and Refusal of Treatment, etc., have been thoroughly up-dated with placement of ‘cases’ clinching to the text.
In their effort to add to the learning experience, the publisher, Elsevier, has made use of this book’s companion website
http://www.manthan.info/Vij/web-home.aspx easy for all students. Now any student can use features like Interactive Assessment,
Downloadable Images and Updates by simply logging in into the Website and creating an ID for self.
In essence, the 5th edition has been nurtured with most recent information, which will serve as an excellent resource for the
undergraduates as well as postgraduate students. Teachers will find it as a guiding light. A wide segment of other professionals
like practitioners (medical as well as legal), investigative agencies, and above all, the judicial officers will also be benefited with
far-reaching content of this edition.
Krishan Vij
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