Medicolegal Examination and Interpretation of Firearm Injuries

Abstract

Objective: This objective of this study is to gather detailed information regarding firearm injuries and their repercussions on the victims and this is to be monitored by scrutiny of the medicolegal protocol implemented by the initial medicolegal examiner, regarding history taking, injuries documentation and clothes examination with the sole purpose of fabrication assessment.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Medicolegal Clinic of Mayo Hospital Lahore of the year 2024 from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.

Methods: The sample size was based on the number of victims reporting in the emergency department for firearm injury examination for the year 2024. The victims were questioned and examined after obtaining a valid informed consent and assent at every step of examination with absolute anonymity and confidentiality. Inclusion criteria was that all these participants were volunteers, male, female, adults, minors coming to medicolegal office for with history of firearm injury. All the other physical assault cases including injuries by blunt means, sharp edge weapons poisoning and sexual assault cases reporting to medicolegal office of Mayo Hospital Lahore were excluded from this study.

Results: Male victims were dominantly more in number as compared to female counterpart and dacoity was highlighted as a main cause followed by fight with either neighbors or family.

Conclusion: Firearm injuries are a horrific trauma to begin with followed by consequential sequelae in form of health along with financial issues, causing undesirable consequences at individual and community level both.