Surrogacy involves the practice of a woman carrying and giving birth to a child on behalf of another individual or couple, referred to as the commissioning or intended parents. However, the surrogacy process has been challenging for everyone involved from an ethical and legal perspective. This article outlines surrogacy's history and contemporary legal advances in surrogacy-related law in India, and also covers the global perspective on surrogacy. The issue of cross-border surrogacy has always been complex, with various ramifications regarding citizenship, nationality, parenthood, and the rights of the child born through such surrogacy. Present regulations in India banned commercial surrogacy and restricted non-national couples from utilizing surrogacy facilities, allowing it only for couples with verified medical conditions necessitating gestational surrogacy, thus eliminating the formerly unregulated surrogacy practices. However, a few ethical, legal, and financial conundrums need to be addressed, as highlighted in the article.

This case study explores the incidental discovery of meningiomas in two adult females who died following suicide by poisoning. A history of generalized seizures, depression, and multiple suicidal attempts was present in both cases. In each of the cases, apart from the findings of poisoning, the autopsy revealed a lobular tumour covering the parasagittal area and suprasellar region and compressing the underlying brain matter. The histopathology reports of both cases revealed the mass as a meningioma. The possible association between meningiomas, depression, and suicide has been discussed in the case report. This case report also emphasises the need for autopsies in unravelling the risk factors and the intricacies of suicide-related behaviour.

BACKGROUND:Interpersonal violence (IPV) is a broad term that includes all types of physical assault, involving the use of physical force or power against others by an individual or small group. Due to regional differences in resources, laws, and access to weapons, various patterns of violence and their associated risk factors are present worldwide. This study aims to examine the socio-demographic profile and injury characteristics of IPV cases presented at a tertiary care hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. METHODOLOGY:An observational study was conducted among victims of IPV who reported to the trauma and emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan, India. A total of 243 cases were included in the study. Sociodemographic details of the individuals involved in IPV were collected, and various variables were defined according to the standard definitions of the Indian law and forensic literature. RESULTS:Among 243 cases of IPV, 189 (77.8 %) involved males, and 54 (22.2 %) involved females. The average age of victims was 32 years ±12.3 years. A total of 87 victims (35.8 %) were classified as illiterate. The face was the most frequently affected area among all victims, accounting for 152 cases (23.3 % of the total body parts involved). About 8.1 % of victims had consumed alcohol or other substances at the time of the incident. 161 victims (66.2 %) reported experiencing physical assaults by individuals known to them. Among males, simple injuries were common, occurring in 145 cases (76.7 %), and the most common weapon used by perpetrators was a blunt weapon, involved in 157 cases (83.1 %). Among female victims as well, simple injuries were more frequent, seen in 48 cases (88.9 %), and the most were attacked with a blunt instrument, used in 49 cases (90.7 %). Univariate analysis showed that males had 1.281 (1.116-1.471) times higher odds of lacerations, 1.289 (1.204-1.379) times higher odds of stab wounds, 1.161 (1.017-1.324) times higher odds of being assaulted with a dangerous weapon, and 1.183 (1.028-1.363) times higher odds of alcohol or substance use at the time of the incident than females in IPV. CONCLUSION:In this study, the young males tend to be the most common victims of IPV. These individuals are often subjected to attacks in outdoor settings during nighttime. Perpetrators more commonly used blunt weapons. Lacerations were the most common injuries. In two-thirds of the cases, the perpetrators were known to the victims. In more than one-tenth of the incidents, the victims had consumed alcohol at the time of the incident. Collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, law enforcement, community organizations, and policymakers, is necessary for a coordinated and comprehensive response to complex social and criminal issues, such as IPV.

Artifacts produced by postmortem animal scavenging are commonly encountered at autopsy. Knowledge of the pattern of artifacts produced by postmortem animal scavenging is essential for the correct interpretation of the autopsy finding. In household deaths, such artifacts are usually caused by domestic animals and by small insects such as flies, ants, beetles, etc. Ants are one of the early scavengers which feed on the dead bodies. The artifacts produced by the postmortem ant activity are usually superficial and non-bleeding type. Rarely, in the congested body regions and areas of marked hypostasis, postmortem bleeding artifacts due to ant bites are possible. In the reported case of hanging, such postmortem bleeding artifacts were present over both the legs, predominantly over the left leg. Typical ant bite lesions in the form of superficial excoriations were also present over the peri-ligature area, over and around both nipples and over the lower part of the abdomen. Morphologically, postmortem bleeding artifacts produced by ant bites exhibit four patterns: droplet pattern, stripe pattern, pool pattern, and mixed pattern. In this case, a mixed pattern (droplet pattern and stripe pattern) of postmortem bleeding artifacts was observed. The presence of postmortem bleeding artifacts over the lower limbs was attributed to the pooling of the blood due to suspension of the body, followed by passive escape of blood due to ant bites. The possibility of such artifacts produced by ant bites should be considered when the origin of the lesion is unclear.

Electrocution deaths are mostly accidental. However, reconstruction of events in unusual electrocution death is challenging. This article reports an accidental death due to electrocution in a highly unusual circumstance, in which a truck driver reversing his vehicle was electrocuted when his truck inadvertently touched an overhead high-voltage wire. The electric injury marks were present over the sole of the right foot. The scene investigation revealed that the high-voltage wire was loose and was below the level of the prescribed height. The truck was passing over an elevated area made up of dirt and stone. The interior of the cabin of the truck revealed a few non-insulated metallic areas over the floor of the truck, between the accelerator and the brake, which were attributed as the sources of entry of electricity into the body. The electric injury marks were different than those usually seen in high-voltage electrocution as there was an intermediate object (truck) involved, and the contact period between the truck and the electric wire was minimal. This fatality was attributed to the non-proper insulation of the interior of the truck, the negligent driving of the truck driver over the elevated surface, and the loose high-voltage wire without proper maintenance.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India [email protected]. The authors report no support in the form of grants. The authors report no conflict of interest.

Background Age estimation of an individual is an integral part of medicolegal work. Out of many scenarios for which age estimation is performed, competitive sports is the one emerging field where experts are consulted for providing accurate age of the athlete. Owing to the chances of deliberately increasing (padding) or decreasing (shaving) the age of the athlete for his own advantage, accurate age estimation is crucial. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) mandates age verification from experts prior to participation in sports events in various age group categories. One of the widely used methods of age estimation in athletes is the radiological examination of the ossification centers of bones. Methodology The study was performed on 134 athletes (72 males and 62 females) with an age range of 12-18 years old with due permission from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for this study. These participants compete at state, national, and international levels in squash, handball, swimming, cricket, and judo in under-14, under-16, and under-19 age categories. X-rays of the wrists, elbows, and pelvis were analyzed using the Schmeling five-stage method for the fusion of ossification centers. Results A greater degree of correlation between the fusion stages of all regions of interest and chronological age was observed in males than in females. The highest correlation in both sexes is observed between the fusion score of the head of the radius and the age (R = 0.814 for males and R = 0.647 for females). The lowest correlation for both males and females is seen between the fusion score of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and age (R = 0.754 for males and R = 0.441 for females). Multiple linear regression models showed a standard error of estimate (SEE) of 1.093 years for the elbow joint, 1.147 years for the wrist joint, 1.039 years for the pelvis joint, and 1.030 years for all three joints. Conclusion Regression models generated for estimating the age of sportspersons from the ossification centers of the elbow, wrist, and pelvis in the present study can be applied for the age estimation of individuals aged between 12 and 18 years. Future population-specific studies on the age estimation of sportspersons with greater sample sizes are necessary to validate the findings of the present study.

and use of contaminated nasogastric tubes, tongue depressors, and wooden spatula are a few factors responsible for the involvement of the GI system in mucormycosis. 5,6 Mortality rate of GI mucormycosis is reported as 40 to 78%. 4,

Abortion has always been a vital issue in reproductive and legal medicine. Globally, medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) is allowed primarily on six grounds: (1) to save the life of a woman, (2) risk to the physical and mental health of a woman, (3) pregnancy due to rape or incest, (4) risk of a child being born with a serious fetal anomaly, (5) socio-economic reasons, (6) a woman's request. Most countries have standard legal abortion policies, yet there remains disparity with respect to prohibition, gestational age limit, specific grounds, etc. Abortion laws are constantly changing globally based on regional social and economic viewpoints. Recently, some countries have liberalised their abortion laws, while a few have further restricted theirs. While some countries still completely prohibit MTP. Like some others, India amended its MTP law in 2021. We consider the medico-legal and ethical issues and examine existing MTP laws both globally and as generally applied in India.

Nair, Anupriya S. MBBS; Jadav, Devendra MD; Shekhawat, Raghvendra Singh MD; Rathore, Mohini MD; Khera, Sudeep MD; Sharma, Rashim MD Author Information

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India [email protected] The authors report no conflict of interest.

Since its launch, ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-powered language model tool, has generated significant attention in research writing. The use of ChatGPT in medical research can be a double-edged sword. ChatGPT can expedite the research writing process by assisting with hypothesis formulation, literature review, data analysis and manuscript writing. On the other hand, using ChatGPT raises concerns regarding the originality and authenticity of content, the precision and potential bias of the tool's output, and the potential legal issues associated with privacy, confidentiality and plagiarism. The article also calls for adherence to stringent citation guidelines and the development of regulations promoting the responsible application of AI. Despite the revolutionary capabilities of ChatGPT, the article highlights its inability to replicate human thought and the difficulties in maintaining the integrity and reliability of ChatGPT-enabled research, particularly in complex fields such as medicine and law. AI tools can be used as supplementary aids rather than primary sources of analysis in medical research writing.

Angle grinders are one of the most dangerous and frequently used tools in industrial settings. Angle grinder injuries range from superficial cuts to deep penetrating injuries with underlying fracture‐dislocation and vascular trauma. The injuries caused by angle grinders mostly involve the head, face, or upper limbs, while the lower limb is an unusual site. The high‐speed rotating disc of the angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures; therefore, the injuries caused may be disfiguring, permanently incapacitating, or even fatal. We report a fatal case of an angle grinder injury to the lower limb. The victim sustained a sharp cut over the left thigh while woodworking in an industrial setup. The rotating disc of an angle grinder had transected the skin, subcutaneous fat and muscles, and both the femoral vessels of the left side, which led to fatal exsanguination within 10 min of the incident.

Focal Cortical Dysplasia (FCD) is a group of focal developmental malformations of the cerebral cortex cytoarchitecture. FCD usually manifests as medically intractable epilepsy, especially in young children. Live patients are diagnosed by radiological examination such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET), magnetoencephalography (MEG), diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI), and intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG). While some cases can be missed by radiological examination, they are usually diagnosed on the histopathological examination of the surgically removed specimens of medically intractable epilepsy patients. We report a case of a young girl with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and seizure disorder who died in her sleep. The deceased was diagnosed with FCD type III with hippocampal sclerosis on histopathological examination at autopsy. H & E stain and NeuN immunohistochemistry neuronal cell marker were used to demonstrate the findings of FCD.

Aortic dissection usually manifests in older individuals. It is a rare cause of sudden death in the age group <35 years. Compared to older age groups, this age range is likely to have distinct clinical and pathologic features, uncommon risk factors, and an unusual presentation. This case reports the sudden death of a 34-year-old male due to extensive aortic dissection without any previously known predisposing factors. Autopsy examination showed the presence of aortic dissection with the formation of the false lumen, which extended from the root of the aorta to the whole length of the ascending aorta, arch of the aorta and further up to 27 cm length of the descending aorta. The pathological examination also revealed retrograde involvement of the brachiocephalic artery and left common carotid artery. The reported AD belonged to Stanford 'type A'. Such extensive AD with unique retrograde extension is rarely reported in Forensic Pathology literature.

Psychoactive substances have been used by humankind for recreational purposes since time immemorial. The psychoactive properties of these substances are known to alter the consciousness, mood, and perception of people taking them. While the use of alcohol, opioids, and cannabinoids for recreational purposes has been researched thoroughly, cases of using psychoactive fauna or animal body parts for getting a 'high' are seldom reported. One such psychoactive substance used in India is snake venom. Snake venom has been reported to cause mood alteration, nociception, lethargy, and blurring of vision, and hence requires a careful review to delve into whether the recreational effects felt by the users can be attributed to constituents of snake venom or are solely due to self-induced effects.

Subcutaneous emphysema can be traumatic, infectious, iatrogenic, or spontaneous. Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema of the upper limb is not infrequent following trauma to that limb. However, the subcutaneous emphysema of the limbs following trauma to a site other than the limb is seldom reported. A 45-year-old male was referred from a private hospital to a tertiary care hospital with right-sided multiple rib fractures and pneumothorax following chest injury. The patient was having acidotic breathing on examination, and crepitus was present over the bilateral chest and bilateral upper and lower limbs, suggesting subcutaneous emphysema. Right and left intercostal drainage tubes were inserted at our hospital. The patient died in the emergency after a few hours of treatment. The X-ray performed at the autopsy revealed extensive bilateral upper and lower limb subcutaneous emphysema. The deceased had multiple rib fractures over the right side with fractured ends of the two ribs piercing the pleural cavity, causing tears in the lung parenchyma. The cause of death was attributed to the chest injury and its sequelae. Such rapidly expanding subcutaneous emphysema can be a sign of underlying severe chest injury. Prompt insertion of the intercostal drainage tube could be the lifesaving procedure in such cases.

Forensic age estimation is a crucial aspect of the biological profile of unidentified cadavers. The utility of age-related changes of hyoid bone fusion in forensic age estimation has not been explored much in the past. These age-related changes can be visualised in both the living and the dead using conventional radiography. These changes can assist medico-legal professionals and forensic anthropologists in the identification of unknown deceased, especially when the cadaver is mutilated or charred or when the other well-established indicators of skeletal and dental maturity are absent. The aims of this study were to evaluate age-related changes in the hyoid bone and to ascertain whether these changes may be utilised for age estimation in forensic examinations. The hyoid bone was carefully dissected using a standard procedure from 75 cadavers during post-mortem examination. The hyoid bone was radiographed, and the bone was replaced in the body cavity before the post-mortem examination was completed. Hyoid bone fusion was studied by using a standard grading method. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated between the fusion scores and chronological age to assess their relationship. Box and whisker plots of fusion stage-wise age distribution were constructed to demonstrate the gradual linear relationship between hyoid bone fusion and the chronological age of the study participants. The present study concludes that hyoid bone fusion is an indicator of the chronological age of an individual and can be used in conjunction with other methods of age estimation such as the skeletal and dental age.