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Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Vydehi is fully tuned to the study, application and subsequently judicious use of all the areas of medical and human body knowledge primarily aimed at assisting the law. Generally this requires a dedicated team of skilled personnel in carrying out routine services of autopsy, clinical cases examinations followed by proper reporting and dealing with any other medicolegal matter where opinion is sought by the investigating agency which is the Police Force in India.

Side by side with this there are educational programmes at undergraduate and post graduate levels, where in a detailed curricular teaching consisting of both theoretical and practical aspects are routinely done. Forensic Medicine, Forensic Pathology, Medical & Health Ethics, introduction to Legal aspects of medical care, Toxicology are major areas of teaching for MBBS in this department.. MD in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology course at the post-graduate level is also undertaken. All courses presently available and likely to be developed in future are/would be – as per National Medical Council and Medical Council of India directives and affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

Professor & HOD

Dr. Jagadeesh N

MBBS,MD
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
40250
 Professor

Dr. Padmini Hannah Noone

MBBS,MD,DNB
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
93630
Associate Professor

Dr. Fairoz Khan

MBBS,MD
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
76256
Assistant professor

Dr. Prabeesh. Y

MBBS,MD
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
85261
Assistant professor

Dr. Karen Harshitha

MBBS,MD
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
90684
Senior Resident

Dr. Reyan Razaq

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
166868

Senior Resident

Dr. Sharanya A

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
172188

Senior Resident

Dr. Anushree N

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
164982
Tutor

Dr. Surendhar

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
152588

Senior Resident

Dr. Greeshima Gopal

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
164822
Tutor

Dr. V Vooha

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
180341
Tutor

Dr. Pranav A

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
145193
Tutor

Dr. Venkat Ajit Tilak

MBBS
Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
180838
Tutor

Dr. Mohammed Sohail A C

Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
127257
Tutor

Dr. Alice Lawrence

Karnataka State Medical Council Registration Number
158571
Tutor

Dr. Dharanpathy D

Tamilnadu State Medical Council Registration Number TMC
162222
1.Housed in the medical college building of Vydehi Medical Institute all physical requirements consisting of office room, record keeping facility, offices for personnel, library, museum, research laboratory and mortuary are all available. Classrooms and lecture theatres with audio-visual facility are shared.

The department has adequate, modern equipment and teaching/learning aids available for autopsy work, embalming & storage of dead bodies, teaching/learning activities as well as for research work.

The Mortuary consists of a 1000 Sq. meter area which has:
  1. Automatic exhaust and cold storage facilities
  2. Closed Circuit TV camera
  3. Four tables with side dissection table each
  4. Automatic dead body weighing machine
  5. Embalming Machine & Oscillating Saw
The Department has all these in addition to all other general equipments for any mortuary work. The Research Laboratory consists of all general instruments for preservation, processing of tissues. It also has an Autoclave, hot air oven, water bath, and microscopes.

The Department has a collection of more than 600 plus bones, X ray plates, osteometric boards & other tools for MBBS /PG teaching.

There has been a slow and steady increase in the autopsies conducted. The number of autopsies conducted in the year 2011 is 193, in 2012 is 233, in 2013 is 251, in 2014 is 291, in 2015 is 274, in 2016 is 264, in 2017 is 333, in 2018 is 443, in 2019 is 485, in 2020 is 487, in 2021 is 401, in 2022 is 372, in 2023 is 384, in 2024 is 426 and in 2025 is 103 till date (March end).

A special area is assigned to the Clinical Forensic Medicine in the Department. Approximately 20-40 cases are handled yearly. Clinical Forensic medical cases conducted in the year 2016 are 19, in 2017 are 19. In the year 2018- 22 cases, in the year 2019-40 cases, in the year 2020-22 cases, in the year 2021- 20 cases, in the year 2022- 34 cases, in the year 2023-36cases, in the year 2024-63 cases and in 2025 -16 till date.

The department also conducts Clinical Forensic work like. Age estimation, examination of Sexual assault cases, DNA sample collection as required by the police / Court is examined. Advice is given to EMD staff and CMOs as and when required in medicolegal cases of RTA, Assault, Poisoning, Fall, Work Place injury, Burns, Electrocution, Rape / Sexual assault, Hanging, Kidnap, Drunkenness, Others. The Institution regularly organizes seminars, debates, guest lectures and visits to the crime scenes.

In 2019 a mock court room was started. It has all the necessary facilities for practicing a court room session. The walls also have informative charts regarding the same There is a department library housed in the first floor. Museum in practical hall is also there in addition to the centralized museum, Osteometric board, view box, callipers, microscopes are there for practical exercises.

There is a department library housed in the first floor. Museum in practical hall is also there in addition to the centralized museum, Osteometric board, view box, callipers, microscopes are there for practical exercises.

Live streamed Video demonstration of autopsy is there which is possible to be viewed from the practical hall.

The mortuary also handles storage of Non MLC dead bodies including embalming services. Cold storage facility is extended even to outside hospital deaths subject to availability of cold storage units. During Covid Pandemic the department handled / coordinated all the Covid deaths for cold storage, relatives viewing, cremation / burial through BBMP and revenue authorities both within the State and outside the State.

The museum at the Forensic Department houses the following

The Forensic Medicine Museum consists of more than 500 photographs , charts , more than 200 wet specimens , bones/skeletons , clay models & various toxicology specimens as well as firearm specimens and weapons . These are all arranged in jars, glass cases & cupboards

25 sets of catalogues available for students and faculty to refer

SPECIMENS No.
Infanticide 18
Brain 16
Heart with Aorta 4
Liver 20
Spleen 5
Face Part 1
Sternum 4
Neck Structures 5
Degloving Hand 2
Mummified Foetus 10
Heart 14
Lungs 15
Kidney 8
Uterus 6
Stomach 4
Trachea with soot 1
Umbilical cord 1
Skin with tattoo 3
 BONES Non-Human – one complete set of Monkey Skeleton, Two complete sets Human of human skeleton
Whole Skull 11
Mandible 14
Sternum 7
Humerus 24
Ulna 15
Sacrum 14
Tibia 18
Patella 13
Skull Vault 14
Clavicle 20
Scapula 16
Radius 15
Hip Bone 24
Femur 32
Fibula 16
Vertebra 118
Ribs/ Tarsals / Carpals/ Metacarpal / Metatarsal / Phalanges 300
 WEAPONS
Rifle 1
Pellets 8
Sharp Cutting light weapons 12
Pistol 2
Blunt weapons 7
Cartridges 7
Ligature Material 7
Sharp cutting heavy weapons 6
POISONS
Vegetable poisons 22
Metals 10
Alcohols 14
Animal 19
Agricultural 4
(Snake – 11, Scorpion – 6, Bee – 1, Bat – 1) 19
CHARTS/DIAGRAMS
Charts 105
Diagram 10
MODELS
Miscellaneous 5
PHOTOGRAPHS
Autopsy Procedures 27
Starvation Deaths 3
Identification 99
Ethics / Negligence 5
Road Traffic Injuries 33
Thermal Injuries 38
Drowning 6
Weapons 41
Full case profile mounted on felt boards 21
Infanticide 21
Artefacts 7
Asphyxial Deaths 44
Toxicology 106
Homicidal Injuries 27
Mechanical Injuries 108
PM Changes 75
Snakes 9
X-RAY PLATES
Skull with jaw 31
Elbow Joint 22
Hip Joint 9
Ankle Joint with foot 10
Sternum 2
Shoulder Joint 8
Wrist 20
Knee 12
Clavicle 7
Miscellaneous 23
SL. No. Authors 1st Author 2nd Author Or Corresponding author Title of the paper Whether published in International National state/ Institutional Journals Details of Indexing Citation of  the Journal Date of Publication Page No. Volume: ISSN No:
1. Dr. Jagadeesh N ( Second Author) Competency based or competency driven medical education in forensic Medicine : Cross roads and way forwards National EMBASE SCOPUS Google Scholar CNKI Scholar EBSCO Discovery Indian Citation index Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 2022 Jan- June 2022. 39(1) 1-4 Issn : 09
2. Dr. Jagadeesh N Do we need an overhaul of the Anatomy Acts in India?   Stat Index Copernicus, Open J Gate, OAJI and Research bib JKAMLS 2023 ;32(1):44-48
3. Dr. Jagadeesh N One Stop Centres for Survivors of Sexual Violence In India: It’s Time for SWOT Analysis to Overcome the Barriers National EMBASE SCOPUS Google Scholar CNKI Scholar EBSCO Discovery Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology   2024 ;41(1):158-160
4. Dr. Jagadeesh N A journey towards safer health care written one chapter Medico legal examination of survivors of Sexual offences In the book of Medico legal Update in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2025
Dr. Padmini H N Dr. Jagadeesh N Dr. Fairoz Khan Dr. Prabeesh Y Dr. Karen Harshitha (corresponding author) Study on covid-19 facilities among Forensic Medicine practitioners in Karnataka during second wave. Accepted for publication in JSIMLA 2024 Journal of South Indian Medico Legal Association   Scopus, Index Copernicus. Journal of South Indian Medico Legal Association 2024 Page no 85-93 Vol No 16 no 2 September 2024 ISSN:0974-6196
5. Dr. Padmini Hannah Noone Implementation of compulsory mentorship program in the present medical education scenario- Benefits and challenges.     National The journal was abstracted and indexed in Index Medicus/MEDLINE/PubMed (1975-2013) and Scopus (1947-2013 and 2016-2017), but coverage was discontinued by both. Indian Journal of Legal Medicine 2023 ;4(1-2):25-26.
6. Dr. Prabeesh Y Dr. Fairoz Khan Dr. Padmini Hannah Noone (corresponding author) Dr. Sudhamshu Raj Sharma Pattern of Injuries in Driver And Pillion Rider In Fatal Cases Of Motorised Two Wheeler Accidents.       Medico Legal Update Google Scholar, Scilit, EBSCO host (USA) and Embase many other international databases. including index Copernicus CINAHL Medico- Legal Update 24.08.2024 Page no 35-39 Vol no 24 no-4 Oct- Dec. ISSN: 0971-720X,              Electronic – ISSN: 0974-1283.
7. Dr. Prabeesh Y Dr. Fairoz Khan Dr. Padmini Hannah Noone (corresponding author) Dr. Sudhamshu Raj Sharma Demographics of Driver And Pillion Rider In Fatal Cases Of Motorised Two Wheeler Accidents. Indian Journal of Legal Medicine The journal was abstracted and indexed in Index Medicus/MEDLINE/PubMed (1975-2013) and Scopus (1947-2013 and 2016-2017), but coverage was discontinued by both. Indian Journal of Legal Medicine January- June 2024 Page no 21-24 Vol no-5 no-1 Jan- Jun 2024 ISSN:0019-5359 1998-3654
8. Dr. Padmini Hannah Noone Summary and Reflection on the introductory Implementation of attitude, Ethics and Communication Skills (AETCOM) Module International Google scholar, Scilit, EBSC host ( USA) and Embase many other international databases. 2025 Vol. No. 25 issue no. 1 January –March 2025
9. Dr. Padmini Hannah Noone Role of Clinical Triaging in Strategic Management of COVID-19 Pandemic and its Ethical and Legal Aspects: A Review of Literature. The journal was abstracted and indexed in Index Medicus/MEDLINE/PubMed (1975-2013) and Scopus (1947-2013 and 2016-2017), but coverage was discontinued by both. Indian Journal of Legal Medicine 2024 ;5(2):125-129
10. Dr. Karen Harshitha ( 1st and Corresponding)   Social psychological profile of pattern of female burn causalities International DOAJ SCOPUS Google Scholar Naver Emerging Sources Citation index Egyptian Journal of Forensic Science   2022     Article no.16(2022)
11. Dr. Karen Harshitha ( 2nd and Corresponding)   Pattern of mortality among adolescent suicides in Victoria Hospital Mortuary National Google Scholar CINAHL EBSCO host ( USA) Embase Indian Journal of Forensic Medical and Toxicology 2023 Vol. 17. No. 1 (2023)
12. Dr. Karen Harshitha ( 1st and Corresponding)   Understanding the pattern of fatalities during extreme heat waves: A comprehensive analysis of hot summer -related deaths   International Google Scholar, Scilit, CINAHL, Emcare, EBSCO host (USA),Embase Indian Journal of Public health Research and Development. 2025 ISSN-0976-0245(Print). ISSN-0976-5506 (Electronic)

The department teaches students of the following disciplines:

  • MBBS
  • MD Forensic Medicine
  • MBBS internship
  • Electives for Forensic Students
  • Safety skills for school students

Modified time table and curriculum is being followed as per the New CBME guidelines. AETCOM sessions of second year and whenever required in other years are also there. Electives in the department are being planned for interested students.

VIDA – Ultra Modern Museum using a blend of E-Platform & Regular specimens, Weapons, Charts & Photographs along with other exhibits. There are both E-Catalogues as well as hard copies for ready reference.

The museum contains HD displays, audio visual exhibits & computerized software driven facility for students and other visitors.

Wet Specimens 331; Dry specimens 150; Wax Models 5; Poisons 140; Charts 105; Photographs 662; Models 5; Slides 20; Weapons; 50 Portraits 5; Case history photographs 6; X-rays 144 & Bones 671.

Located at basement with external entry and internal entry consisting of 1000 sq. meters of well lighted ventilated and having properly equipped instruments is used for storing dead bodies, carrying out regular autopsy work with student demonstration as needed. At any given time, adequate cold storage for dead bodies, four operating tables and adequate waiting area for police and relatives are there. Side labs for screening for alcohol and pesticides are provided. We carry out embalming and storage of dead bodies also.  Total autopsies in year 2011 is 193, in 2012 is 233, in 2013 is 251, in 2014 is 291, in 2015 is 274, in 2016 is 264, in 2017 is 333, in 2018 is 443, in 2019 is 485, in 2020 is 487, in 2021 is 401, in 2022 is 372, in 2023 is 384 in 2024 is 426 and in 2025 is 103 till date (March end).

  • NABH standards are followed
  • Covid guidelines are followed.
  • Disinfection with hypochlorite is done after each autopsy
  • Sanitization, autoclaving is done regularly
  • Mourners room is there
  • Adjacent serology room is there
  • Skeletal remains examination is also done
  • Facilitates police in identifying unknown/missing persons

  • Perception of attitude, ethics and communication learning skills amongst MBBS students of all phases – a cross sectional questionnaire based study Dr Surendhar SS, RGUHS thesis work being conducted during the period 2024-2026 under the guidance of Jagadeesh N
  • Attitude and awareness towards rights of transgender patients-a comparative study between two groups of medical students trained in Forensic Medicine by two different curricula Dr Padmini HN- ACME project completed under the guidance of Dr Lakshmi TA, Dr Kiran Mahadevappa, SJMC
  • Psyche on your prints: A research study bridging finger prints and personality traits-RGUHS short term research grant for UG students applied for by Latha, 2nd year student under the guidance of Dr Karen Harshitha.
  • Mandatory reporting in married underage couples as per the POCSO act and evolving socio-cultural issue. Research work by Dr Padmini, Dr Karen
  • First rank MD Forensic Medicine-Dr. Fairoz Khan 2011
  • Second rank MD Forensic Medicine –Dr. Shobhana SS 2013
  • First rank MD Forensic Medicine-Dr. Madhusudhan Reddy 2017
  • DNB Forensic Medicine Gold medal- Dr. Karen Harshitha 2023
3ranks in Forensic Medicine UG exam results announced by RGUHS in the year 2024
  1. Karthika S Gowda 4th rank
  2. Keerthi Raj V 8th rank
  3. Hazel Ivana D’Souza 10th rank
Achievements 100% result in 3rd yr. university examination in the year 2024 Dr. Jagadeesh N- Achievements
  • Honorary Consultant of NGO organization named CEHAT of Mumbai
  • Member, National Committee which formed the Uniform Guidelines for medical examination of Sexual Violence Victims, Ministry of Health & Family welfare, Government of India, 2014
  • Member, National committee on framing Guidelines on management of Child sexual Abuse of Indian   Medical Association, National headquarters, New Delhi and UNICEF, New Delhi, 2014
  • Member, Guideline development group which formed the Policy and clinical practice guidelines for responding to violence against women, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland, 2013
  • Member, Guideline development group, Guidelines for the sexuality counseling for health care providers, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Member, Review board for Journals like Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Journal of Karnataka Medico legal Society, Journal of South India Medico legal Society
  • As Gender Mainstreamer in Medical Education- a World Health Organisation, eneva initiative and Achuta Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Trivandrum
  • Curriculum Committee member for Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, Maharashtra
  • Member of Committee which formulated SOPs for stakeholders to handle cases under POCSO Act by Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, 2019
Dr. Padmini HN- Achievements
  • MBA in Healthcare management in 2021
  • Associate Editor, Indian Journal of Legal Medicine 2024
  • Board of studies  member for PG curriculum ParaClinical in RGUHS since 2025
Dr. Fairoz Khan- Achievements
  • Former Executive Committee Member SIMLA 2017
Dr. Karen Harshitha – Achievements
  • PGDHRL from NLS obtained in 2024
  • Participation in world patient safety week conducted during the period 17 Sep to 25 September 2023 for the 3rd year students.


    One of the posters made by students


    Winners of the poster and slogan contest

  • CME on Engendering medical education and clinical practice conducted by the Dept. of Forensic Medicine, VIMS and RC along with CEHAT Mumbai, April 18,19 2024

  • Accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH)