Dr.O.P.Murty: Autopsy and curriculum

Dear Colleagues , Greetings !

Autopsy is a serious exercise and requires comprehensive knowledge. As far as Forensic Autopsies are concerned in traumatic cases, cause of death is quite obvious even to a lay man in majority of cases. Actual art of expertise is required in sudden death cases and Clinical Autopsies. I had an opportunity of performing Clinical Autopsies for more than two years in WHO recognized centre. We were also getting aspiring trainees for MRC Pathology UK andAustralia.  Here in Clinical Autopsies, one has to be more updated as majority of cases are discussed in Death Meeting of hospital so you are under scrutiny of your medical colleagues. One can make an important place in medical school / hospital by doing so as autopsy experieince is must in foreign countries for every pathologist  and our Indian are applying for such experieence. It was a good experience and it increases your worth and usefulness. We are fully capable of doing so in India also , only some attitude change and reorientation is required. Every MBBS has undergone 18 months training during MBBS so what prevets them to reorient !  Likewise every LLB is a genral practioner of the subjects he studied  so the same priniciples applies to Medicos also. Basic aim of  curriculum drafting and futiristic plannining that we should not waste youthful period of a medico by burdening him material which he is not going to use. We must keep in mind that Indian Scenerio is quite different from developed world.  W ecannot give up " Jugad technology " by absorbing goods from every system.

In my opinion , our forensic experts should take up all  kind of autopsies as it is their rightful  domain so running away from responsibility by taking names of Medico-legal Autopsies

In coming time , it is quite possible that Doctors may not be called in all postmortem cases as majority of centers are opting for typed reports so cause of death will be clear to court so only in capital punishment cases , they may summoned.  Some of broad areas where we can focus  and expand as we are already teaching these

1.  Medico-legal and Clinical Autopsies

2. Legal  aspect of Medicine

3. Medical Toxicology

4. Forensic Dentistry

5. Forensic Pathology

6. Basics of Forensic Sciences  and analytical toxicology

7. Clinical Forensic Medicine

8. Ethics , Research and other ethical problems

9. Research Methodology

10.   Forensic Histopathology

11.   Forensic aspects of  all branches from our majority of negligence  cases come  from like Anesthesia , Surgery , Obs and Gynae ,  etc.

12.   Sexual Forensic Medicine

13.   Social Forensics

14.   Forensic Nanotechnology

15.   Forensic Photography

16.   Expert opinions and critical analysis

      and other branches where , we have exhaustive  material , and it is in practice .

For expanding branch , people can read my articles

1. Medical Education : Curriculum for UG  and PG-  Int J   Med Tox and Legal Medicine ,  1998 , July to Dec :25-31
2. Medical Education  - Curriculum for PG , 1997 ;14(2): 31-36
3. One dedicated issue  on curriculum of FMT  , Int J   Med Tox and Legal Medicine , 2003 ;5(2):1-74

Branch is not going to be abolished but it appears that some integrated teaching may be adopted  so that more clinical and practical sense is developed among future doctors. We should represent so that we convey our feelings and vision. It will benefit all. 

With best wishes

Prof.(Dr) O.P.Murty

Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Quality_of_Medical_Education/message/2410