Delay in final opinion of autopsy requiring Histo-pathological and chemical analysis

Abstract

Examination of viscera by pathologist or chemical examiner is a must in cases where the cause of death is not confirmed/ could not be ascertained during the autopsy. Viscera is handed over to police to be taken to respective laboratories for histopathological examination or chemical analysis or for both. This leads to delay in giving the final opinion regarding the cause of death.: To study the delay in giving the final opinion of a particular case from the day of postmortem examination. Study included autopsy cases done in the year 2015 and 2018. The data was collected from the PMR, histopathological and toxicological examination reports and from the final opinion. Delay/ time taken at different levels was studied and the average delay at each level was calculated. Average delay for final opinion was found to be 561 and 378 days for the year 2015 and 2018, respectively. In one case this time taken was more than 7 years. About 63% of the cases studied are still awaiting final disposal.