PREVALENCE OF EXHUMATION IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD;

A LOCAL EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Exhumation is a procedure conducted by authorities in which a body or its remains
are retrieved from the ground or wherever they were buried either lawfully or in an illegal manner.
Exhumation is considered a legal procedure which is carried out when foul play is suspected
after death and it is necessary to find out the cause of death. Objectives: To determine the
prevalence of exhumation in District Faisalabad along with identifying the factors hampering
the results to establish cause of death. Study Design: Descriptive, observational, retrospective
study. Setting: Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Faisalabad Medical University,
Faisalabad. Period: Six years from January 2011 to December 2016. Methods: The data of
exhumations conducted in the Faisalabad district, was collected on a study proforma with the
permission of relevant authorities. Results: Total 87 cases of exhumation were studied with a
frequency of 14.5 exhumations per year. Male to female ratio of 2:0.9 was found with 69% males
and 31% females. 78.16% cases belong to rural areas and 18.39% cases are from urban areas.
Commonest age group was 20-29 year with (27.5%) cases. Cause of death was determined
only in 18.39 % cases. In majority of cases (44.82%) time lapse between death & exhumation
was 1-3 months. Allegations made for conduction of exhumation was poisoning in majority
of cases (35.63%). Conclusion: Time lapse between burial & exhumation, advance stage of
putrefaction, improper allegations &lack of proper documentation leads to failure in achieving
the objective of exhumation.