DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE & TOXICOLOGY

The Department of Forensic Medicine, KEMU, is the center of Excellence in the country for the teaching, training and certification of Medico-legal work. It is one of its kind and a role model for development of other centers in the county at various teaching institutions. It is the only department whose trainees are serving all over the country in the specialty.

At present, the department is recognized for post graduate training and examination center like, DMJ, MCPS, M. Phil and FCPS both from PM&DC, Islamabad and CPSP, Karachi. It is the only department in all over Punjab having capacity for storage of about 83 dead bodies. The first regular teacher in the department at KEMC was Prof. Nasib R. Awan. His continuous, persistent and untiring efforts led to up-gradation of the department from attaining the present status. At the end of year 1983, the autopsy work for the District Lahore was authorized to Department of Forensic Medicine, KEMC.In 1999 the responsibility of medico legal work done at A & E department Mayo Hospital, Lahore was also shifted to this department.

To train and teach under and post grad students of Forensic Medicine to attain knowledge and skill of following aspects:

• Ability to Identify, examine & prepare report or certificate in medico legal cases/situations in accordance with the law of land.
• Able to perform medico legal postmortem & interpret findings & results of other relevant investigations to logically conclude the cause, manner & time since death.
• Be aware of medical ethics, etiquette, duties, rights, medical negligence & legal responsibilities of the physicians towards patient, profession, society, state & humanity.
• Be aware of relevant legal/court procedures applicable to the medico legal/ medical practice.
• Be able to preserve & dispatch specimens in medico legal/ post mortem cases & other concerned materials to the appropriate Govt. agencies for necessary examination.
• Manage medico legal implications, diagnosis & principles of therapy of common poisons.
• Be aware of general principles of analytical, environmental, occupational & preventive aspects of toxicology.
• Understand different types of Bio-medical waste potential risks & their management.

TEACHING PROGRAMS:

1. Undergraduate Programs

• Allied health sciences
• MBBS

2. Postgraduate Programs

• FCPS
• M. Phil
• DMJ
• MCPS

1. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT:-

A barren area measuring about 800 square feet adjacent to the main entrance and behind the cold storage of the department may please be merged with Forensic department. This small area may be constructed as reception and sitting facility for the police and relatives of the deceased. It is an utmost requirement to address the security issues and to avoid unnecessary movements and roaming of the people in all emergency situations.Record storage capacity enhancement is need of the hour as medicolegal record has to keep safe for 12 years as per rules.

2. FORENSIC AUTOPSY LAB:-

Forensic Autopsy Laboratory needs overall complete renovation with special focus on the following:-

• Ceiling mounted light (Shadow less OT light).
• Combustion Exhaust system to vent out putrefying gasses.
• Fully covered open drainage system.
• Air-conditioner to maintain the temperature during the postmortem.
• X-rays illuminator.
• Tile work

3. FORENSIC ANALYTICAL LAB:-

• Forensic Analytical Lab needs total tile work & renovation of the floor.

4. COMPUTER ROOM:-

• Total renovation including ceiling & cabinets.
• Temperature maintaining system.
• UPS 2000 Watts.

5. LIBRARY:-

Forensic Medicine Department does not have any library for the students and research scholars; therefore it is worth to have high standards of teaching.

6. RESEARCH EQUIPMENTS:-

Department of Forensic Medicine needs following on priority bases to facilitate the postgraduate students;

• Trocar cannula (for bone marrow and Aqua’s humors).
• CSF Aspiration needs (for electrolytes).
• Autopsy Lab. Temperature system.
• Thermometer (to measure the temperature of dead body before postmortem).
• Sample storing freezers.
• Digital weight machine (to measure the weight of the dead body).
• Fractional steam distillation apparatus for forensic analytical laboratory.
• Digital thin layer chromatography system.
• Gas chromatography system.
• DNA finger printing research system.
• Generator for cold storage