Assessment of Understanding And Perception of Undergraduate Medical Students Regarding Medico-legal Autopsy

Abstract

Objective: To address the declining interest in forensic medicine and contribute to curriculum improvements by identifying knowledge gaps and exploring perceptions of undergraduate medical students in Pakistan regarding autopsies. It seeks to investigate the impact of autopsy exposure on students' attitudes toward pursuing forensic medicine as a career. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire was conducted among 272 third and fourth-year MBBS students at a private medical college, over a six-month period. Results: According to the results of this study, most of the of students correctly understand the basic purpose of forensic postmortem examination, which is to determine the cause of death. However, there are knowledge gaps in understanding the legal and procedural aspects of autopsy. Additionally, the study highlights the students' perception of autopsy, with a substantial portion feeling uncomfortable or considering it disrespectful to the body. Conclusion: The findings provide insights into how the curriculum can be enhanced to prepare medical students for the ethical, emotional, and professional aspects of forensic pathology.