Role of P.O visit, Ligature material examination and case history in Autopsy examination of hanging cases

Abstract

Hanging is a common mode of unnatural death in our society. A child aged 12yrs to a person aged 89 years committed suicide by Hanging. Ligature marks over neck depends on various factors, like ligature material, type of hanging, duration of hanging, mental status of person at that time, hairs, beard, types of knot, number of turns of ligature and body wt. In some cases of hanging when the body released from ligature within minute after suspension then ligature mark may be not visible/faint/only knot marks visible over neck. In cases of partial hanging the ligature mark may present over mid neck placed transversely and mimics like strangulation. In such cases it is very difficult for autopsy Surgeon to decide whether it is a case of Hanging or Strangulation. If hanging then whether Suicidal/ Homicidal/ Accidental. To rule out the possibilities, P.O visit, ligature material examination and case history is very important.