SHRI VAISHNAV VIDYAPEETH VISHWAVIDYALAYA

SHRI VAISHNAV INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

INDORE

INTERNSHIP REPORT

Session: 2023-24

A part fulfillment of Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree

Submitted by:

Name of Student: HARSH KUSHWAH

Program: MSc
Class: MSc FORENSIC SCIENCE
Enrollment No.: 1906DBSFS05184

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 INDEX

 Introduction Page no. 7

 Rationale Page no. 8

 Theory Page no. 9

 Experimental Work Page no. 12

 Result and Discussion Page no. 21

 Conclusion Page no. 22

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 CERTIFICATE

If applicable
(Issued by Company/Firm/Research Institute etc.)

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 DECLARATION

I am HARSH KUSHWAH S/o VARSHA KUSHWAH hereby declared that the submitted to
at Shri Vaishnav Institute of Forensic Science, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya,
Indore is a record of an original INTERNSHIP work carried out by me under the guidance of
Mr. Dinesh Kamble, Assistant professor of SVIFS and submitted for the partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the award of Degree of PG in FORENSIC SCIENCE.

The results embodied in this dissertation/project work have not been submitted to any other
university or institute for the award of any degree or diploma

DATE ………… SIGNATURE OF STUDENT ………………

NAME OF STUDENT…………..

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 CERTIFICATE BY SUPERVISOR

This is to certified that the internship report prepared by HARSH KUSHWAH Enrollment
No.1906DBSFS05184 under my supervision for the partial fulfillment of the requirement of
the award of degree PG in FORENSIC SCIENCE from Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth
Vishwavidyalaya, Indore is satisfactory and no part thereof has been published elsewhere for
the award of any other degree or diploma.

Date …………… Signature of Supervisor ………………….

Name ……………

Designation …………..

Forwarded by Director of the Institute

Signature of Director…………..

Name …………..

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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First of all, I would like to thank God for helping me from the beginning to the end of my
internship period.

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Ashutosh Shukla, coordinator of the Shri
Vaishnav Institute of Forensic Science Indore for providing me with the chance to work for
such a prestigious institution. Throughout the entire internship, he was always supportive and
gave me moral support.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank Mr. Dinesh Kamble, Assistant Professor at the
Shri Vaishnav Institute of Forensic Science Indore, who oversaw my project and introduced
me to this exciting field of study.

I sincerely thank Dr. Praveen K. Arora Prof. & Head of department, Forensic Medicine &
Toxicology. SAIMS Medical College & P.G. Institute, Indore and Dr. Vishal B. Surwade,
MBBS, MD, Assistant Professor, FMT, for taking the lectures and for the careful and
precious guidance which was extremely valuable for my study both theoretically and
practically.

I want to thank Dr. M.P. Goutam, Professor, SVIFS and the entire SVIFS faculty members
for their unwavering encouragement and support throughout the effort, I owe them all a debt
of gratitude for teaching me how to communicate effectively and how to persevere to
accomplish any objective in life.

Additionally, I want to thank my classmates for their unwavering support and assistance.

I sincerely appreciate the benefits and the ongoing encouragement and support from my
parents.

INTRODUCTION
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In this internship we have learned the medicolegal importance of the injuries which were
related to the crime itself, these injuries play an important role in the identification of the
suspect and relate the crime scene to it. primarily we study the classification of injuries which
can results into the death of the victim itself and the types of weapons which are used to
cause these injuries and their modus operandi by analyzing the use of the weapon and also the
injuries which were caused by these weapons.

An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia,

cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by
dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death; or the exam may be performed
to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present for research or educational purposes.

An autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination, is a surgical procedure that involves a

thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of
death¹. It can also be performed to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present for
research or educational purposes³. The term "autopsy" comes from the Greek word
"autopsia," which means "to see for oneself"².

In the field of **forensic science**, autopsies play a vital role. They serve as a bridge
between the living and the deceased, offering insights into the final moments of a person's
life⁶. By meticulously examining the body, forensic pathologists can uncover crucial details
that might otherwise remain concealed⁶.

Forensic autopsies are performed for several reasons:

1. **Determining the cause of death**: By identifying injuries, diseases, or poisoning,

pathologists can establish the cause of death⁸.

2. **Aiding legal proceedings**: Forensic autopsies provide objective and scientifically-

backed evidence that can corroborate or refute witness testimonies and circumstantial
evidence⁶.

3. **Assisting criminal investigations**: In cases involving suspicious or violent deaths,

autopsies provide crucial insights into the manner of death, whether it be natural, accidental,
homicidal, or suicidal⁶.

4. **Ensuring fairness in the judicial process**: Findings from autopsies often serve as key
pieces of evidence in criminal trials, influencing jury decisions and shaping the outcome of
cases⁶.

In essence, autopsies in forensic science help to unravel the narratives of the departed,
shedding light on circumstances surrounding deaths, and ensuring justice is served
impartially⁶.

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Personal identification is of paramount importance in forensic science for several reasons:

1. **Establishing Identity**: Accurate identification of individuals contributes to public

safety and security⁴. It helps in the prevention and detection of crimes, tracking individuals
with criminal histories, and monitoring potential threats to society⁴.

2. **Linking Evidence**: Personal identification can help investigators link one crime scene
to another involving the same person⁵. For instance, fingerprints can be used to track a
criminal's record, their previous arrests and convictions, to aid in sentencing, probation,
parole, and pardoning decisions⁵.

3. **Legal Necessity**: A positive identification is a key factor in providing closure for the
family of the deceased³. It is also required to issue the death certificate and therefore, to settle
legal affairs³. Moreover, it is difficult for any forensic investigation involving human remains
to be solved without the determination of an identity³.

4. **Medico-Legal Cases**: In medico-legal cases, identification is very crucial in living as

well as in dead¹. For instance, in living cases, it is needed in civil cases like inheritance of
property, pension, life insurance, voting rights, passport, disputed identity in cases of divorce
or nullity of marriage, disputed sex, missing persons, lost memory patients¹. In criminal
cases, it is needed for identification of accused in criminal cases of assault, murder, dacoity,
sexual offenses, absconding soldiers, interchange of new born babies in hospital, criminal
abortion, to fix up age of criminal responsibility and majority, impersonation in criminal
cases¹. In dead cases, it is needed in cases of natural mass disasters like earth quakes,
tsunamis, landslides, floods etc., and in man-made disasters like bomb explosions, fire, air
crash, building collapse, railway accidents or bodies recovered from sea, rivers, canals, wells
and in cases when the body is highly decomposed or dismembered to deliberately conceal the
identity of the individual¹.

In essence, personal identification in forensic science helps to ensure justice, maintain public
safety, and provide closure for families¹³⁴⁵.

The toxicological aspect of the of the poisoning is also considered and studied in this report
as it also cooperates in the death of the deceased itself. The poisons can play an important
role in the death of the person itself these poisons were analyzed by the forensic experts to
identify the cause of death of the deceased and to track the relation of the poison to the
victims and the suspect in some cases.

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All these contributes in the autopsy of the victim’s body and as well as the identification of
the deceased itself which is crucial to solve it crime by itself.

RATIONALS

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The rationale for the report on the internship in the fields of autopsy and toxicology at
SAIMS College is rooted in the comprehensive learning and practical experience that the
program offers. The internship provides a unique opportunity to delve into the intricacies of
forensic medicine, a field that is crucial in the administration of justice.

The program at SAIMS College is designed to provide hands-on experience in autopsy

procedures and toxicological analysis, two critical components of forensic medicine.
Autopsies are essential in determining the cause and manner of death, while toxicology plays
a key role in identifying substances that may have contributed to death or injury. By
participating in these procedures, interns can gain a deep understanding of the practical
aspects of forensic medicine.

Moreover, the internship emphasizes the importance of medico-legal responsibilities, ethical

considerations, and effective communication in forensic medicine. These are vital skills for
any professional in the field, as they often need to interact with law enforcement, legal
professionals, and sometimes even testify in court.

The program also encourages research in forensic medicine, fostering critical thinking and
innovation. This is particularly important in a rapidly evolving field like forensic medicine,
where new techniques and technologies are constantly being developed.

In conclusion, the rationale for the report lies in the comprehensive, practical, and innovative
nature of the internship program at SAIMS College. It provides a valuable opportunity for
aspiring forensic medicine professionals to gain practical experience, broaden their
knowledge, and develop essential skills in the field. The report aims to highlight these aspects
and provide a detailed account of the learning outcomes of the internship.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

SHRI AUROBINDO INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES [SAIMS]

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HISTORY

Inspired by the ideals of Sri Aurbindo and the mother, Sri Aurbindo Institute of Medical
Science (SAIMS) aims to embody devotion and selfless service, SAIMS has made a mark
within central India because of its serving excellence with world-class quality of education
and healthcare services. The campus of Sri Aurobido University is spread over 54 acres of
indore Ujjain state highway in indore. It is leading and largest educational institute and
hospital group in mid – western india. SAIMS has a 1400 bedded multi – speciality hospital
to provide better health care service to society.

PROFILE

Oncology services at SAIMS were established in 2011. The integrated cancer care centre
provides holistic, culture – specific and age – appropriate care for oaedatric, adult and elderly
patients with haemotological modern technology like digital PET with 160 slice CT, De vinci
Robotic machines – CLINAC DMX (dual – energy photon & four electron energies with
onboard imaging) and HALCYON Elite (single energy photon), Cobalt HDR Brachytherapy
unit, pain RFA machine (thermal, pulsed and cooled). The Philosophy is to provide integrated
patient and family-centric, affordable health solutions tailored to individual needs so that no
patient is left untreated.

SPECIALITIES

The cancer centre at SAIMS has all specialities to provide comprehensive cancer treatment at
the centre. SAIMS being an academic centre, it offers courses in specialities including PG
(MD/MD), super speciality (DM/MCh), PhD and post-doctoral fellowship.

An interdisciplinary tumour board is run to ensure integrated cancer care, including:

- Medical Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Paediatric Oncology
- Gynae Oncology
- Orthopedic Oncology
- Palliative Medicine
- Prevention Oncology
- Clinical Oncology
- Etc.

SRI AUROBINDO UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY

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Forensic medicine mainly deals with examination and assessment of individuals who have
been—or are suspected to have been—injured or killed by external influence such as trauma
or intoxication, but also of individuals who are suspected of having injured another person.
This means that not only victims and suspects of crime, but also suicides and accidental
fatalities are examined by a specialist in forensic medicine (or forensic pathology)

The department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, SAMC & PGI, Indore is in existence
for almost 17 years and is authorized by the State Government for conducting medico-legal
autopsies for about 15 years. Department is engaged in teaching undergraduate &
postgraduate medical students by providing hands-on experience using modern teaching
modalities. It is well equipped with models, specimens, and charts in its state-of-the-art
museum and laboratories to provide the best teaching and learning experience to students and
enhance their knowledge and creativity.

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Toxicology

Forensic toxicology is the analysis of biological samples for the presence of toxins, including
drugs. The toxicology report can provide key information as to the type of substances present
in an individual and if the amount of those substances is consistent with a therapeutic dosage
or is above a harmful level. These results can be used to make inferences when determining a
substance's potential effect on an individual's death, illness, or mental or physical
impairment.

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 ACTIVITIES PERFORMED

In the time duration of internship, I had performed many activities including group
assignment works, museum visits, postmortem visit, class discussions, case discussions,
important points to note in the case of handling a case like poisoning, injuries, accidents etc.

1. AUTOPSY

An autopsy is a medical examination of a body after death to find the cause — and
sometimes manner — of death. A pathologist trained to perform autopsies thoroughly
examines the inside and outside of the body.

The word “autopsy” comes from the Greek word “autopsia,” which means “to see for
oneself.” People sometimes call an autopsy a post-mortem, especially in the U.K. “post-”
means “after,” and “mortem” means “death.”

When autopsy is performed?

There are two main types of autopsies based on the reason for them: forensic autopsies and
clinical autopsies.

Forensic autopsy

Forensic pathologists perform forensic autopsies (medicolegal autopsies) as a part of legal

investigations. “Forensic” means “related to scientific methods of solving crimes.”

 Unnatural (homicide, suicide or accident).

 Sudden or unexpected (especially in an infant or child).
 Suspicious.
 Unknown.
 Violent.
 Unwitnessed.
 Due to an acute (sudden and severe) workplace injury.
 Related to industrial hazards (like fires and toxic waste).
 Associated with medical or surgical treatment in which there’s alleged medical
negligence.
 Associated with anesthesia (such as from a surgery or procedure).

Clinical autopsy

A hospital pathologist sometimes performs a clinical autopsy (pathological or hospital-based

autopsy) in cases of natural death to find and/or better understand the cause of death. A
natural death happens due to an internal factor that causes your body to shut down. Examples
include cancer, a heart attack and an infectious disease. It means there was no external reason
for the death, such as a fatal injury or drowning.

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What is done during an autopsy?

The process of an autopsy can vary depending on the reason for it. Forensic autopsies are
often very thorough, examining every part of the body. They also typically include crime
scene investigation and toxicology — the branch of science that explores the nature, effects
and detection of poisons.

Clinical autopsies may only investigate certain parts of the body. They typically don’t do
toxicology as part of the autopsies.

In general, the steps of an autopsy may include:

1. The pathologist lays the body out carefully on an examination table.

2. The pathologist thoroughly looks at the outside of the body. They take notes of
anything that looks unusual or may be related to the death.
3. They may take or request photographs and/or X-rays of the body.
4. The pathologist uses a scalpel to cut the body from the collarbone to the lower
abdomen to examine the inside of the body. They may remove all or specific internal
tissues and organs.
5. They take small tissue samples from organs to look at under a microscope.
6. The pathologist may cut through the scalp and skull to examine the brain.
7. They may request various tests on body fluid, tissue and organ samples in a
laboratory, like chemical or toxicological analyses. They’ll also collect and test any
“unnatural” materials in or on the body (like debris or bullets) in forensic autopsies.
8. After a forensic autopsy, the pathologist places the organs back inside the body,
except for the brain, and stitches the skin closed again. In clinical autopsies, the
pathologist doesn’t place the organs back in the body. Pathologists aim to restore the
body to the best possible cosmetic condition.

CASES HANDLED

At the time I had attended three autopsy cases, and our professor had handled the cases
accurately and he explained it clearly along with each and every point which we all needed to
remember while conducting a postmortem.

CASE NO: 1

The first case attended was of an infant of one and half years, who have admitted to Shri
Aurobindo Institute of Medical Science with severe burning on entire body. The death
occurred in 5th march 2024, due to Septicemia. Septicemia is an infection that occurs when
bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread. It can lead to sepsis, the body's reaction to the
infection, which can cause organ damage and even death.

CASE NO: 2

The second case attended was of a man of 25 years age, who had brought to SAIMS due to
road traffic accident. On examination, an open fracture in right leg was noted. Rigor mortis
stage has been started and postmortem lividity is present in supine position (back side of the
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body). Death is occurred due to the clotting of blood in the heart valve and along with that the
base of the skull was also been ruptured. In this case massive hemorrhage was also present.

CASE NO: 3

The next case was also a road traffic accident, in which the body is in the first stage of rigor
mortis. There are injuries present on the right-side ribs, fracture in humerous, fracture in
skull, graze abrasion and contusions in the legs. Death was occurred due to the collapse of
lungs with the ribs. There was collection of blood in the thoracic cavity as well

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 THEOROTICAL DISCUSSION IN THE SESSIONS

INJURIES

An injury is harm or damage to the body caused by an external force or violence. Injuries can
range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious conditions like fractures, dislocations, or
internal injuries. They can be caused by accidents, falls, sports activities, or intentional harm.

CLASSIFICATION OF INJURIES

i. Medico legal injuries –

A Medico-Legal Case can be defined as a case of injury or ailment, etc., in which

investigations by the law-enforcing agencies are essential to fix the responsibility
regarding the causation of the injury or ailment.

ii. Legal injuries –

Physical damage to property or harm done to a person that happens as the direct result of
someone breaking a law

iii. Medical injuries –

Any untoward harm associated with a therapeutic or diagnostic health care intervention.

Medicolegal injuries

• Suicide

If a person jumps in front of a train, the injuries are very severe, and although primary impact
may be demonstrated, usually the primary impact injuries are too extensive to afford any
helpful interpretation. On occasions, a simple decapitation may occur.

• Homicide

Homicidal stab wounds are typically multiple, affect the vital region, and are associated with
defence wounds and defects in the patient's clothes worn during the attack

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• Accident

The term accidental injury refers to various sudden, unexpected and external events occurring
without the will of the injured party and causing injury in connection with a medical
examination or treatment.

• Self-inflicted

Self-inflicted injury occurs when someone purposely hurts themselves. Self-inflicted injury is
also called self-injury, self-abuse, self-mutilation, deliberate self-harm, para-suicidal
behavior, and non-suicidal self-injury.

• Defense

A defense wound or self-defense wound is an injury received by the victim of an attack while
trying to defend against the assailant Defensive wounds are often found on the hands and
forearms, where the victim has raised them to protect the head and face or to fend off an
assault, but may also be present on the feet and legs where a victim attempts defense while
lying down and kicking out at the assailant

Legal injuries

• Simple hurt (Sec. 319, I.P.C)

Section 319 defines simple hurt as whoever causes bodily injury, pain, sickness, or disability
to another person by an act; such conduct is termed simple hurt.

• Grievous hurt (Sec. 320, I.P.C)

Section 320 defines grievous hurt as a hurt that is more than a little causing harm as defined
in section 95 of the IPC and less than culpable homicide.

Medical injuries

• Mechanical/physical injuries

Mechanical injuries are classified depending on the weapon of offence involved.

1) Blunt force impact: Due to blunt force impact either striking the body as in a

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blow or the moving body striking a fixed object or surface, as in case of a fall on a Rough
surface etc. The injuries caused by blunt force impact are abrasion,

bruise contusion & laceration.

2) Sharp force impact: Due to striking of the body by edge of any sharp object like Knife
tip, broken glass, or heavy sharp objects like axe etc. they cause injuries

Viz., incised wound, stab wound, chop wound.

3) Due to fire arms: 1) Fire arm injuries 2) Blast wounds/Bomb explosion.

• Thermal injuries

Thermal burns are skin injuries caused by excessive heat, typically from contact with hot
surfaces, hot liquids, steam, or flame.

1) Due to local effects of cold:

a) Frost bite.

b) Trench foot/ Immersion syndrome

c) Chilblain

2)Due to generalized effects of cold: Hypothermia

3)Due to local heat application:

a) Burns (Due to application of dry heat , e.g; flame

b) Scalds. (Due to application of moist heat)

4)Due to generalized effects of heat:

a) Heat hyperpyrexia

b) Heat exhaustion or Heat collapse

c) Heat cramps or miner’s cramp

d) Heat stroke

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• Chemical injuries

Chemical injuries occur when the skin, eyes, or internal organs come into contact with
harmful chemicals. These injuries can be caused by acids, alkalis, solvents, and other toxic
substances, leading to burns, irritation, or systemic toxicity.

• Explosions

Explosion injuries can vary widely depending on factors like proximity to the blast, type of
explosion, and protective measures in place. They can include burns, shrapnel wounds,
concussions, hearing loss, and respiratory problems from inhaling smoke or debris. Treatment
often involves stabilizing the patient, managing pain, addressing wounds, and providing
support for any other injuries or trauma.

• Miscellaneous

a. Electrical injuries causing electrocution.

b. blasting injuries which can be termed as a combination of mechanical and thermal injuries.

c. Radiation injuries caused as a result of radioactive substances/ X- rays.

d. Lightning injuries which is a combination of electrical, mechanical and thermal injury.

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 LEARNING OUTCOMES

An internship in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology can provide a wide range of learning
outcomes. Here are some key takeaways you can expect from such an internship:

1. **Medico-Legal Expertise**: You will become competent in handling medico-legal

responsibilities and duties in various settings¹². This includes dealing with medico-legal
aspects of Psychiatry, mental health, and drug addiction².

2. **Post-Mortem Proficiency**: You will gain the ability to perform post-mortem

examinations independently, preserve and dispatch specimens in medico-legal/postmortem
cases, and write medico-legal reports¹.

3. **Toxicology Knowledge**: You will learn about common toxins and their effects on the
human body, toxicological analysis techniques, and the analysis of drugs of abuse³⁵.

4. **Ethics and Legal Responsibilities**: You will acquire a thorough understanding of

medical ethics, etiquette, duties, rights, medical negligence, and the legal responsibilities of
physicians towards patients, profession, society, state, and humanity at large¹.

5. **Research Methodology**: You will be oriented to the principles of research

methodology and will have the opportunity to conduct research in the subject².

6. **Teaching Skills**: You will acquire skills in educating and imparting training to
medical, paramedical, and allied professionals².

7. **Forensic Science Knowledge**: You will learn about the role of forensic medicine and
toxicology in legal investigations, its historical evolution, ethical standards, and protocols for
conducting a medicolegal autopsy³.

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Remember, the specific learning outcomes can vary based on the structure and focus of the
internship program. It's always a good idea to check with the program provider for specific
details.

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 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the internship in Forensic Toxicology and Autopsy at SAIMS College has
been an enriching and invaluable experience. The program provided a comprehensive
understanding of the principles and practices of forensic medicine and toxicology.

The hands-on experience in autopsy procedures and toxicological analysis was particularly
enlightening. It offered a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world
scenarios, enhancing both practical skills and problem-solving abilities. The exposure to
various medico-legal cases broadened the understanding of the legal responsibilities and
ethical considerations in forensic medicine.

The internship also emphasized the importance of research methodology in forensic science.
It encouraged critical thinking and fostered an appreciation for the role of research in
advancing the field. The opportunity to interact with experienced professionals and learn
from their expertise was truly beneficial.

Furthermore, the program highlighted the significance of effective communication and

teaching skills in the field of forensic medicine. It underscored the importance of being able
to clearly convey complex forensic information to a non-specialist audience, a skill that is
crucial in the courtroom.

Overall, the internship at SAIMS College has been instrumental in providing a solid
foundation in forensic medicine and toxicology. It has not only equipped with the necessary
skills and knowledge but also sparked a deeper interest in the field. It is a highly
recommended program for anyone seeking to explore or specialize in forensic medicine and
toxicology.

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