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Identification is the determination or establishment of a person--- living or dead by recognizing him by

certain characteristics which are unique in him.

Identification is necessary in the living person in the following circumstances:

(a) All Medico-legal cases

(b) Absconding Criminals and Soldiers.

(c) Persons accused of murder

(d) Persons accused of Assault or Rape

(e) Mixing up of new born babies

(f) Children who have been lost

(g) Adults who have lost their money due to any Cause.

(h) Property Claims.

(i) Insurance purposes.

(j) Claim of pensions.

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While conducting an examination for Identification:

(a) It should be told very clearly that the facts can go against the person.

(b) The consent should not be taken in front of the police officers.

(c) It is essential to obtain the consent of the person before the conduct of examination.

(d) The Person can refuse to submit himself for examination.

Identification of the dead requires great skills because of the hot climate of Pakistan. The body

undergoes decomposition. In some cases, It is damaged by the animals.

Identification of Dead is done in following Circumstances:

(a) Explosions

(b) Fires

(c) Railway or Plane Accidents

(d) A death where foul play is suspected.

(e) Floods

(f) Other natural or un-natural or accidental deaths.

Following Data is asked for Identification

1

Race &

Community

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1

Sex/

Gender

3

1

Age, Hairy and

its distribution

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1

Anthropometry,

Interrelation of

various parts

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Identification scars:

Tattoo, Occupation

marks

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Identification of race is important when people of different races are present as in air crashes,

railway accidents and in unclaimed dead bodies found on roads.

In Pakistan the main differentiation is between a Hindu and Muslim. The latter is circumcised

whereas the former is not.

Points Help in Race Determination:

1. General Look of the Person

2. Cephalic Index: It is the ratio of the maximum breadths and length of the skull x 100

3. Clothes: The western dress if very much different from the Pakistani Dress.

4. Complexion: The negroes have curly hair, the blonde hair of Europeans and the Jet black

hair of Pakistanis have dark eyes.

5. Eyes: The western people have blue eyes and the Pakistanis have dark eyes.

6. Lips: The lips of the individuals may be helpful e.g., the big thick lips of Negroes.

7. Sex: The normal cases mere inspection of the body determines the sex and this is no

problem in living persons. Difficulty in exactly spotting out male from female arises

when they are pressed similarly and are walking together at a distance, the importance

of sex determination arises in cases of disputed property, marriage, education, divorce,

rape , etc.

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Gaits,

manners,

Habits

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Speech &

Voice

8

Complexion And

Features

9

Finger and

foot,

prints

10

Deformities

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Hand-

Writing,

Photographs

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Identification of age is classified into two broad groups:

1. Identification in intrauterine Life: Before period of viability, i.e., 210 days. These are the

abortion cases. { The importance of this type of identification is that death of foetus

after its viable, amounts to murder.

2. Extrauterine Life: The identification of age after birth and is done in following Order :

(i) Estimation of age upto 15 days.

(ii) Estimation of age 15 days – 06 Months.

(iii) Estimation of age 6 months – 12 months

(iv) 2 years-6 years

(v) 6 years – 14 years

(vi) 14 years-21 years

(vii) More than 21 years of age.

In the first two weeks of life, changes occur in the umbilical stump. A red ring is present around

the umbilicus in the first 24 hours. It dries off in 5-6 days and fall of completely in 8 days. A raw

pink area which is left behind heals off complete of the 14thday.

These changes may be delayed if:

(i) The umbilical stump is being kept well all the time.

(ii) Infection starts in the stump.

Importance in determine age in the first 15 days of life is in cases of infactincide where

it is necessary to know if the foetus was still born or live born.

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15 days-6 months: During this period there is no definite data for determining the age of the

baby. Milestones like lifting of head, holding the neck smiling, crawling and sitting are help in

estimating the rough age.

6 months – 2 Years: During this phase of life, definite and accurate data are present for the

assessment of age.

Appearance of Primary Definition---- the milk teeth: This set consist of 20 teeth. NO premolars

are present in the temporary set.

4 incisors, 2 canines and 4 molars are present in each jaw.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT TEETH

S.NO. NATURE TEMPORARY TEETH PERMANENT TEETH

1.

Size

Smaller, Lighter, Narrower, except Temporary molars which are longer than permanent replacing them.

Heavier, stronger, broader except Permanent Premolars replacing temporary molars.

2. Direction Anterior Teeth are vertical

Anterior teeth are usually inclined a little forward

3. Crown Chine-White color (Pune White)

Ivory-White Color. (Slight yellowish)

4. Neck More constricted Less constricted

5. Root Roots of molars are smaller & more divergent.

Roots of molars are larger & less divergent.

6. Ridge A ridge or thick edge at the junction of the crown with the fangs present

`No ride

7. Socket Germs found ½ No germs, greater than half death of jaw.

8. Edges Serrated Not serrated

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1. Identification of a body if accurate and dated dental record is available.

2. Dentures could help if they bear the name of the patient.

3. Help in the estimation of the age.

The other evidence of age is obtained by X-ray pictures of long bones, elbow join, knee join

and ankle joint to know the appearance of sonication centers.

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FUSION OF BONES AT ELBOW:

Fusion of bones at elbow joint takes place as follows:

(1) Trochela 11-12 years

(2) Lateral Epicondyle 14-15 years

(3) Medical epicondyle 15-16 years.

(4) Upper end of ulna 13-14 years

(5) Upper end of radius 14-15 years.

This order differs from race to race , place and sex. The periosteum fuses last. In females the

fusion of ossification centers occurs 1 ½ years earlier than in the males.

The Accurate estimation of age is of great importance in certain cases. These are :

(1) Fixation of the criminal responsibility

(2) Kidnapping cases.

(3) Marriage contracts

(4) Rape

(5) Attainment of Majority

(6) As an eligible witness

(7) Eligibility for employment

(8) Judicial Punishment

(9) Criminal Abortion

(10) Infanticide.

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