Medico-Legal Autopsy Performed by Medical College in Seoul Area During Last 5 Years.

Korean J Leg Med. 2000 May;24(1):7-12. Korean.

Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.

This is the statistical analysis about the medicolegal autopsy cases performed by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University Medical College during the last 5 years. 1. The total number of cases was 330, among which male took 256(77.5%) cases, female 74(22.5%) cases. The natural death took 134(40.6%) cases, unnatural death 177(53.6%) cases. For remaining 19(5.8%) cases the cause of death was known, although thorough analyses including microscopic examination, toxicology study were done. The thirties were most as 25.4% of the total cases, and the forties followed the second. 2. The number of autopsy showed severe variation annually or monthly in a year. 3. Among unnatural death, death by violent injury took 87(49.2%) cases, asphyxia 48(27.1%) cases, intoxication 17(9.6%) cases and death by thermal injuries or electric injuries 25(14.1%) cases. 4. Among natural death the abnormality in cardiovascular system were the most as 73(54.5%) cases, gastrointestinal system 38(28.4%) cases and central nervous system 12(8.9%) cases. 5. There were some differences between these and the data from other institute in the ratio of male to female, ratio of natural death to unnatural death and the ratio of specific cause of death among natural and unnatural death. 6. During this work, there were some difficulties in the aspect the irregularity of the work, in requesting toxicology and in the expense needed for the process. Considering the educational aspect for the students and the residents in pathology, performing medicolegal autopsy in medical college should be encouraged. The small number of autopsy and the closeness of the scene made the scene investigation possible in several cases, which is the ideal form that we must consider when we set up our system for the postmortem investigation.

Key words: statistical, medicolegal autopsy, medical college