Psychological Autopsy: A Tool for Resolving Equivocal Deaths
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/0an4t915Keywords:
Psychological Autopsy; Equivocal deaths; Manner; Suicide; fall; Forensic medicine.Abstract
In equivocal deaths especially in cases of suicide where the reason for suicide is not evident, and in cases where manner
of death is doubtful as in accidental fall or homicidal fall, or suicidal or accidental hanging, a retrospective & thorough
investigation about the victims Intention, State of mind and Individual’s actions before death called Psychological Autopsy,
provides a significant clue to the investigating team. The furtherinvestigation through psychological autopsy requires
a detailed interviewing of the close family members, relatives, friends and colleagues or acquaintances of the deceased
regarding the various contributing factors which may get revealed subsequently which can helps in delineating the manner
and reason for the instant death.
This article brings about the objective of psychological autopsy, the interviewing areas which needs to be explored while
conducting this procedure, it’s legal acceptance and limitations.Also discussing here various caseswhere psychological
autopsy supported the investigative team and forensic experts to appease the queries in the mind of the relatives, friends,
and family members to the sudden unexpected loss of their dear ones.
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