A Study on Pattern of Medico-Legal Cases at ESIC Medical College, Kalaburagi

Abstract

 In casualty, Casualty Medical Officers come across a maximum number of Medico-legal cases. Any case where 
the doctor feels that it should be investigated by the Police or a Magistrate is considered as Medico legal case. 
As it is a Medico legal case, there will be an inquiry by the investigating officer and if needed an Investigating 
officer may require a report of that case to produce to the court. The doctor who has issued report can be called 
to the court to give the evidence regarding that case. Identifying the pattern of injuries, types of cases, age-wise 
distribution, and sex distribution of Medico-legal cases reported to the casualty department of the hospital will 
help administrators, social workers, NGO’s, and policymakers to successfully manage and prevent such cases 
by devising necessary policies. A retrospective study was conducted at Employee State Insurance Corporation 
Medical College, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. All the reported cases to casualty between April 2022 and March 
2023 at ESIC Medical College, Kalaburagi were analyzed. Total of 452 Medico-legal cases were analyzed which 
were attended in casualty in span of one year out of total 11288 Casualty cases. In that 344 were male and 108 
female patients. In the present study, the maximum MLCs were Road Traffic Accidents, followed by assault, 
poisoning and others.