About the Department
The Department of Forensic Medicine at Government Thiruvarur Medical College serves as a vital bridge between medical science and the legal system, playing a crucial role in the administration of justice and public welfare. Forensic medicine is indispensable in the investigation of unnatural and suspicious deaths, interpretation of injuries, and scientific evaluation of evidence, thereby assisting law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in delivering fair and accurate outcomes. The department is well equipped with essential infrastructure, including a fully functional autopsy hall with autopsy tables and a dedicated forensic museum that supports both teaching and academic enrichment.
The department is committed to excellence in undergraduate teaching and academic development, catering to an annual MBBS intake of 100 students, with two active batches in the second and third years. Regular theory classes are conducted twice a week, supplemented by practical demonstrations, case‑based learning, and periodic seminars that enhance analytical skills, ethical practice, and professional competence among students. Faculty members actively participate in national and international conferences, ensuring continuous academic growth and upgradation of knowledge.
The department provides comprehensive medico‑legal services to multiple sectors, including the health system, medical education, police, judiciary, and other government agencies. It handles an average of approximately 620 autopsies annually, covering a wide spectrum of cases such as custodial deaths, exhumations, road traffic accidents, poisoning, hanging, snake bite, drowning, burns, homicide, bee stings, railway accidents, electrocution, and other suspicious deaths requiring detailed medico‑legal evaluation. In addition, the department conducts examinations in cases of sexual offences, prepares reports for the Prohibition and Enforcement Wing, and provides expert second opinions in complex medico‑legal matters. Specialized services such as age estimation, DNA profiling coordination, and comprehensive bone examination are also undertaken, reflecting the department's commitment to precision, integrity, and the highest standards of medico‑legal practice.
Autopsy Statistics (2021 – 2025)
The following tables present the annual distribution of autopsy cases and related examinations conducted by the department.
Year‑wise Case Distribution
| Year | Col 1 | Col 2 | Col 3 | Col 4 | Col 5 | Col 6 | Col 7 | Col 8 | Col 9 | Col 10 | Col 11 | Col 12 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 231 | 78 | 33 | 13 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 57 | 6 | 668 |
| 2022 | 177 | 235 | 64 | 39 | 23 | 13 | 31 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 53 | 9 | 679 |
| 2023 | 159 | 209 | 75 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 23 | 58 | 3 | 619 |
| 2024 | 145 | 205 | 77 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 45 | 16 | 581 |
| 2025 | 104 | 203 | 72 | 9 | 24 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 64 | 9 | 559 |
Additional Examinations
| Year | Category A | Category B | Category C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 3 | 34 |
| 2022 | 81 | – | 39 |
| 2023 | 61 | 1 | 52 |
| 2024 | 101 | – | 25 |
| 2025 | 171 | – | 68 |
Publications
| S.No | Title of the Publication | Name of the Journal | Authorship Details | Indexing Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pattern of poisoning: Experience at tertiary care hospital | MedPulse International Journal of Forensic Medicine | 1st author | Index Copernicus |
| 2 | Sociodemographic study of poisoning at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Puducherry | MedPulse International Journal of Forensic Medicine | 1st author | Index Copernicus |
| 3 | Histopathological assessment of autopsied salivary gland tissue to estimate the postmortem interval – A case of sectional observational study | Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology | 3rd author | PubMed |
| 4 | Estimation of postmortem death interval from autopsied tongue tissue: A cross‑sectional study | Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | 3rd author | PubMed |
| 5 | Radiological estimation of age by epiphyseal union at wrist joint and hand among males | European Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine | 2nd author | Embase |
| 6 | Age estimation by epiphyseal union at wrist joint and hand in females | European Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine | 2nd author | Embase |
| 7 | Age estimation from radiographic evaluation of various developmental stages of maxillary third molars and its associated gender variation | Journal of Forensic Medicine and Science and Law | 3rd author | Scopus |
| 8 | Autopsy based Cross Sectional Observational Study on Carotid Artery Injury in Non‑Penetrative Neck Trauma | Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology | 1st author | Embase |
| 9 | Comparative Study of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Among Power Loom Workers in Relation to Gender Distribution in Rural Area in Salem District | International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research | 2nd author | Embase |