Forensic medicine and Toxicology is the branch of medical science which applies the medical knowledge in administration of justice. Injustice causes a great mental, social, spiritual and also physical trauma and this branch participates in prevention and healing of that trauma of grieved person. Thus, we may also say that it is involved in treatment by facilitating administration of justice.
The department of FMT, AIIMS Patna, has been rendering its services since 2013 when the first faculty of the department, Dr Binay Kumar joined as Assistant Professor and managed the department for 5 years as head of the department till 2018. The department has been proceeding on the path of development under his ample guidance and leadership. Thereafter, Dr Amit Patil; possessing an enthusiastic, energetic and dynamic personality, joined as Additional Professor and took the charge of next head of the department.
Professor Dr Manoj Kumar joined the department as Professor in the year 2020 and later on took the responsibility of Head of the department. The department is progressing under his leadership and being benefitted by his vast knowledge. He left the institution in the year 2022 after serving for two years.
Presently Dr (Prof) Amit Patil is the Head of the department, he Is an enthusiastic, energetic, and dynamic personality, visionary and department progressing for the best facility and service to the people.
MBBS teaching along with training of SR, JR and tutors have taken place and still taking place in the department. MD (FMT) course started in the department from January 2019 session and two Junior Residents (Academic) joined in January 2019 session, one in July 2019 session, one in January 2020 session, one in July 2020 session, two Junior Residents (Academic) joined in January 2021 session, two Junior Residents (Academic) joined in July 2021 session and one Junior Residents (Academic) joined in January 2022 session.
Clinical forensic medicine services by the department started on 2nd of January 2020 and the department is looking after the legal issues comprised by clinical forensic medicine related to persons visiting AIIMS Patna for diagnosis, management and treatment purposes. We are giving medicolegal opinion to the admitted patients related to police case for the justice.
Permission to start post-mortem examination services was granted to the department in 2020 and 10 (ten) police stations of Patna district were earmarked as its jurisdiction. Inaugural function of post mortem examination services was ceremonised by the department on 8th of January 2021 and the un-interrupted service is being provided by the department since 10th of January, 2021.
Department is actively involved in assisting the Human rights Commission, Police, C.B.I. and C.I.D. etc. in dealing with medicolegal issues. Disability board and other medical boards are also being assisted by the department.
There is proposal of establishing a separate histopathology laboratory, we also have proposal to use artificial intelligence in medicolegal cases like autopsy for diagnosis and giving frank opinion related to death and we are also progressing towards virtual autopsy for forensic investigations and the establishment of the same is in process. We are looking for a state of art forensic medicine department at AIIMS Patna which will pose an example to other national and international institutions.
In view of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the crisis arising thereby, the institute administration conferred upon the department the responsibility of management of each and every death case occurring due to COVID-19 at AIIMS Patna, and also the after death management of the deceased bodies in dignified manner. The department has been efficiently managing the same since 24.03.2020. The department has also developed Standard Operating Procedure for the dignified management of dead bodies of suspected as well as confirmed cases of COVID-19. In this way, we are dealing with Humanitarian Forensics too.