Unnatural Death in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Background and objective: According to Criminal Procedure Law, unnatural deaths must be investigated by forensic pathologists and police officers. Unnatural deaths in Muang District and those referred cases from other hospitals in the Northeast were autopsied in Srinagarind hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. The objective is to study the demographic data and the incidence of causes and manner of unnatural death in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Province.

Methods: The death certificate and autopsy reports of unnatural death at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University during January 2006 to 31 December 2010 were reviewed. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and based on their sex, age, causes and manner of death.

Results : Of 1,966 unnatural death, 82.5 % were men and 19.23 % were females  in aged group 35-44 years. The most common manner of death was accident and the second most common was homicide which was found 44.81 and 18.87 %,  respectively. Most of accidents were traffic accident which found most in aged group 15-24 years. Sixty five percent of homicide was gunshot injury. Suicide was uncommon found only 8.6 % and hanging was the most common method used in suicide. Diseaseaccount for 10% was unnatural death.

Conclusions : The most common manner of death were accident which found most in males, aged group 35-44 years, the second was homicide. Traffic accident was  the most common type of accident group. Firearm  was the most common weapon used in homicide and hanging was the most common method used in suicide.