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Medicolegal Autopsies In Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the pattern of medicolegal autopsies to highlight any differences or similarities to the observations of workers in other parts of the country and abroad.
METHOD: This study is a retrospective review of all medicolegal autopsies carried out at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a ten-year period, between 1st January 1986 to 31st December 1995.
The records were retrieved and the cases classified accordingly into natural causes accidental, homicidal, suicidal deaths, as well as cases where no anatomical cause of death was found2.
RESULTS: There were 3084 medicolegal cases during the period of study with 2337 males and 747 females giving a male to female ratio of 3.1:1.
CONCLUTION: Suicide by hanging being the commonest method in this environment does not tally with the findings in the Western part of this country where injection of toxic substances are used.
Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(1) 2003: 33-35
METHOD: This study is a retrospective review of all medicolegal autopsies carried out at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a ten-year period, between 1st January 1986 to 31st December 1995.
The records were retrieved and the cases classified accordingly into natural causes accidental, homicidal, suicidal deaths, as well as cases where no anatomical cause of death was found2.
RESULTS: There were 3084 medicolegal cases during the period of study with 2337 males and 747 females giving a male to female ratio of 3.1:1.
CONCLUTION: Suicide by hanging being the commonest method in this environment does not tally with the findings in the Western part of this country where injection of toxic substances are used.
Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(1) 2003: 33-35
