Abstract
Sudden death in young females can have various causes and it is important to investigate
the cause thoroughly. In cases with a vague history, postmortem ancillary investigation
can also help to establish or rule out potential causes of death, such as underlying
medical conditions or environmental factors. These investigations may include various
laboratory tests, such as toxicology, histology, microbiology, and genetic analysis,
as well as radiological imaging studies. This information not only helps in ascertaining
the cause and manner of death but also helps in establishing the legal connotations
in any medicolegal case.
This is a case of a young woman allegedly 18 years brought for a medicolegal autopsy.
She had been feeling unwell for a few days before her death, experiencing vomiting,
weakness, and fatigue. Although no underlying disease was diagnosed, she was advised
to take a pregnancy test. Fifteen days later, she died at home continuing to feel
unwell. Upon autopsy, the young woman was found to be emaciated, and revealed a male
fetus, of 4 to 5 months of gestational age, in her uterus. A radiological examination
of bones conducted postmortem revealed that the age of woman was approximately 15
years old. Postmortem microbiology analysis revealed the presence of the bacteria
Leuconostoc mesenteroides in a blood sample collected from the subclavian vein. The pathogenicity of this bacteria
in the cause of death along with the role of ancillary investigation in the light
of Indian criminal law and its challenges are being discussed.
Keywords
sudden death - young female -
Leuconostoc mesenteroides
- postmortem ancillary investigations - Indian POCSO Act - mandatory reporting
