A Six Year Retrospective Study of Custodial Deaths due to Natural Causes

Abstract

Numbers of deaths in custody are increasing every year. Contrary to the popular belief, deaths occurring in custody could be due to natural causes along with the unnatural ones. The autopsy allows for proper certification of the cause and manner of death and ends speculation about other causes of death and possible injuries. Many of these deaths are premature deaths and can be prevented with proper care and treatment. In the present six year retrospective study, total 118 custodial deaths brought to the mortuary for autopsy were studied. Of them 96 (81.35%) cases had died of natural causes. Study showed male preponderance with most of the cases from the age group 31 to 35 years when both sexes were considered collectively. As far as the type of custody was concerned almost all cases were held in jail when the terminal symptoms that led to their death appeared first. Ischaemic heart disease (23.95%) was by far the most common cause of death among the natural custodial deaths followed by pneumonia (21.87%).