Medico-legal Institute: A Need of State

Abstract

Medico-legal Institute have been in existence for centuries in several countries of the world. The importanceof setting up of Medico-legal Institute in every state of countries, closely associated with medical colleges,for the systematic teaching of forensic medicine, training of specialists, for the investigation of Medicolegalproblems, etc., has been stressed by all the leading medical jurists of the world.The Health Surveyand Development Committee (The Bhore Committee) Government of India, 1946, in their report hadrecommended the starting of Central Medico-legal Institute. Later, Government of India, Ministry ofHealth and Family Welfare constituted a central Medico-legal Advisory Committee in year 1958, whichgave its reportin 1964 and recommendedevery state for establishment of such Medico-legal Institute. Therecommendation has been followed very lightly by establishing the Medico-legal Institute in few states only.Now aday due to advancement of technologies and public awareness, Medico-legal issues are increasingdays by day. It is the demand of the time to take a solid step to solve these cases in legal and scientific ways.Initiatives of establishment of medico-legal institute in every state can be one of the firm milestones for thesettlements of the maximum Medico-legal cases. As Government of India is in the process to establish AllIndia Institute of Medical sciences (AIIMS), in every state in which lands, buildings and manpower hasalready been planned, so up-gradation of Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of every AIIMSto the level of Medico-legal Institute will be an appropriate decision for reduction of monetary investment.