Forensic medicine may be a highly interesting and challenging branch of medicine but new doctors in Andhra Pradesh seem reluctant to specialize in it. What else explains the fact that more than 60% of the post graduate seats in the departments of forensic medicine and toxicology in medical colleges across the state have no takers. Most of the posts of professors and associate professors are also vacant.
This niche course is mainly offered by government medical colleges because in AP only government colleges are authorised to conduct autopsy or post mortem in medico-legal cases.
In AP , there are 14 PG forensic medicine seats in government colleges, of which eight were vacant in 2014.In 2013, there were no takers at all. In Andhra Medical College (AMC) alone, of four PG seats, two are vacant, while in 2013, all four were unoccupied.
According to doctors, the taboo of dealing with dead bodies, lack of incentives and career prospects are the main factors deterring medicos from opting for forensic medicine.
“Most medicos don't want to get involved with police cases and legal hassles, which is a part of forensic medicine. Also, unlike in Karnataka and Kerala, where private medical colleges are allowed to conduct autopsies, doctors in AP have to work in the government setup only ,“ said Dr Y Pydiraju, in-charge head of the forensic medicine department at AMC-KGH.
Forensic expert Dr (Major) V Chandrasekhar from KGH concurred, “PG seats are limited in this discipline throughout the country , yet they have no takers. More than 60% of the PG seats in forensic medicine remain vacant in the state. The government is tiding over this shortage of forensic specialists by deputing MBBS doctors to conduct post-mortems. The government could provide opportunities by deploying forensic MD degree holders in such centres instead.“
He also pointed out the lack of senior faculty. Nearly 70% posts of professors and associate professors are lying vacant in AMC, Kakinada, Tirupati and other government colleges. A PG forensic medico said that only those who are left with no other option or are highly interested in criminology seem to be opting for forensic medicine. Also, several of them get restricted to teaching as they are not entitled to take up medico-legal works in private hospitals.
The situation would be better if private medical colleges were allowed to conduct autopsies, said Narendra Vendi, a senior resident forensic doctor. “The students of private colleges should be allowed to undertake a few post-mortem cases from nearby police stations under the guidance of expert doctors. This would generate work and reduce the burden on the government medical colleges.“
However, doctors from private medical colleges are unsure of the future of forensic medicine even if they are allowed to conduct medico-legal cases. Dr Y V Sharma, principal of GSL Medical College, Rajamundhry said, “This specialised discipline is neither financially rewarding nor offers much scope in career advancement. When the government is struggling to cope with the shortage of doctors to treat patients, providing doctors for the dead is the last priority. Forensic medicine is dying a natural death.“
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