Understanding Behind Refusal to Autopsy in Road Traffic Cases in Lahore: A Perspective of Police Investigation Officer

Abstract

The study aims to explore the investigation officer’s understanding behind the refusal to medico-legal autopsies in fatal RTCs in Lahore, Pakistan. A medico-legal autopsy is conducted to find out the facts about the suspicious or unnatural death, such as the cause of death, estimated time, type, and number of injuries. Its report is essential admissible evidence. Many studies identified medico-legal autopsy as a cause of tension between the grieved family and investigation officers. This study used an exploratory research design to collect qualitative data. Purposive sampling (a type of non-probability sampling technique) was used to recruit 12 participant investigators from 6 police stations, who investigated at least one fatal RTC in Lahore, Punjab. The primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with a semi-structured interview guide from informants. Qualitative data was analyzed by using the thematic analysis technique. The study highlighted that in fatal RTCs, the majority of the bereaved families refused to allow a medico-legal autopsy. The religious ideology of the bereaved families is the main factor behind the refusal, followed by the humiliation of the dead body, lack of trust, procedural delay and extraction of body parts. Local politicians and high-ranking officers often compel the investigators to circumvent legal procedures. Court orders are the most common way used to prevent autopsy, while sometimes police have to face protests also. A comprehensive awareness campaign should be launched to aware people of the importance and impact of autopsy reports on the conviction.