Impact of COVID 19 lockdown on Medico Legal Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North Kerala

Abstract

Background: The consequence of Covid 19 lockdown on medicolegal cases was variable throughout the world.Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital setting and otherpublic health institutions in the same district with the objective of comparing thetotal number of medico legalcases, any increase or decrease in the unnatural (accidental, suicidal and homicidal) versus natural deaths and alsowhether any increase or decrease of coronary artery disease among the brought dead natural cases during pre andthe lock down period.Results: Among the total number of medicolegal cases came for autopsy (237), 65.8% were during pre lock downperiod and 34.2% were during lockdown period. This indicates a significant reduction in the number of casesduring lockdown compared to pre lockdown in both type of institutions. This reduction in number of cases wereobserved in all the type of cases as indicated by reduction in unnatural deaths (30.2%versus 69.8%), small reductionin natural deaths (46.3% versus 53.7%), accidental deaths (26% versus 74%), suicidal deaths (36.2% versus 63.8%),reduction in Road traffic accidents(26.3%versus 73.7%), deaths following coronary artery disease (42.9%versus57.1%). The age distribution of deaths due to coronary artery disease during the pre lockdown period was in arange of 28 – 85 years and during lockdown period was 33- 78 years with a median of 48 years in both groups.Conclusion: Regardless of the type of, there is reduction in the number of medicolegal cases during lockdowncompared to pre lockdown in both the types of institutions.