Autopsy done on skeletal remains

Background: According to Bichat, there are three modes of death, depending upon whether death begins in one or the other of the three systems (circulatory), (respiratory) or (nervous system) irrespective of what the remote cause of death may be. These modes are: (1) Syncope (2) Asphyxia (3) Coma Case Report: Putrefied remains and partially skeletonized body of a male came to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in March 2018 for the purpose of identification and to determine the cause of death. Three bones were retained and cleaned of adhering tissue debris. The putrefied remains were estimated to be of a male aged21-24 years with a gutter fracture along with linear fracture of 4 cmand petrous part of the temporal bone was found to be missing. The most likely cause of death was opined to be coma as a result of head injury caused by firearm. Time Since death was estimated to be more than four weeks based on the ambient temperature, site of disposal of body, entomology and semi-skeletonized condition of the body. Conclusion: The case has been reported in the view of the fact that a highly putrefied body with unknown cause of death came to us for the purpose of identification, opinion about cause of death and time since death turns out to be of a male having bullet injury in skull and a case of possible homicide . Hence, thorough autopsy is recommended as negligence leads to obscure autopsy.