Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: November | Volume: 8 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 257-260
A Study on Medico Legal Cases Attended in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South Kerala
Dr. Manju. L1, Dr. Nazeema Beevi. P2
1Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Community Medicine, Sree Gokulam Medical College & Research Foundation, Venjaramoodu, Trivandrum- 695 581.
2Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sree Gokulam Medical College & Research Foundation, Venjaramoodu, Trivandrum- 695 581.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Manju. L
ABSTRACT
Background: Medico legal cases constitute the majority of casualty cases in a hospital. Identifying the pattern and age-sex distribution of medico legal cases reported in a hospital is important for administrators, social workers and NGOs to devise policies to reduce the frequency of these events. With this objective we had conducted a record based study in a tertiary care hospital in South Kerala.
Materials and methods: A record based retrospective study is carried out in the Medical Records Department of a tertiary care hospital in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. All cases reported during the period 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2017 were analyzed. Incomplete records and those found non- medico legal were excluded. Results were expressed in frequency and percentage.
Results: A total number of 8615 cases were reported during 2014 to 2017. There is an increase in the number of cases from 2014 to 2016 and a decrease of 9% in 2017. Among the 8615 cases reported, 29.7% were in the age group 20-30 years followed by 19.3% in the 30-40 age group. Majorities are males (71.3%). 36.9% of cases were reported between 12 noon and 6pm followed by 35.0% within the time period 6pm to 12 midnight. Eighty percent of the MLC cases are road traffic accidents.
Conclusion: There is an increase in trend in the MLC during the last three years. Majorities are males in the age group of 20-30 years and most of the cases occurred between 12 noon and 6pm. Road traffic accidents constitute the majority of cases.
Key words: Assault; Casualty; Injury; Medico legal cases; Poisoning; Road traffic accidents.