Department of Forensic Medicine

Asst Prof Nasim Irshad

Head of Department

Message from the HOD

Welcome to the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, where science meets justice. Our dedicated and highly skilled faculty is committed to providing quality education and training in this vital discipline. Forensic Medicine applies the principles of medical knowledge in the administration of justice, both in civil and criminal cases, while Toxicology addresses the identification, effects, and medico-legal implications of poisons and toxic agents.

As a state subject in Pakistan, its importance is paramount. Most doctors encounter medico-legal responsibilities immediately after graduation, since no structured training is provided unless pursued at the postgraduate level. Therefore, undergraduate teaching of laws of the land and medico-legal practice is essential to prepare doctors for real-time responsibilities in government service.

We offer 3rd year MBBS students lectures, case-based learning, autopsy demonstrations, and museum-based teaching. Facilities include a 250-seat lecture hall, two small-group discussion rooms, and a Forensic Museum with models, specimens, and poisons, all equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems

On behalf of the department, I reaffirm our dedication to advancing medical education and to shaping this institution into a future center of excellence.

Asst Prof Nasim Irshad

Head, Department of Forensic Medicine

Introduction

Forensic Medicine is the branch of medical science that assists the law in uncovering the truth and upholding justice in society. Its global significance continues to grow with the rise in crime and litigation, making medico-legal knowledge essential for every medical graduate. The Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology is dedicated to equipping students with practical skills in medico-legal work, while also exposing them to modern technology and updated investigative techniques.

Our well-established museum houses forensic models, specimens, instruments, poisons, weapons, radiographs, and other exhibits of medico-legal importance, providing students with valuable hands-on learning. For practical orientation, students regularly attend autopsy demonstrations and medico-legal training sessions at the autopsy suite and emergency department of DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi.

The department is staffed by a team of committed professionals, including one Professor, two Assistant Professors, four Demonstrators, and dedicated technical and support staff, all working together to strengthen undergraduate medical education.

Outline of the Course

The 3rd year MBBS course in Forensic Medicine equips students with essential medico-legal knowledge and its application in the administration of justice. Core areas include ethics, consent, negligence, personal identification, thanatology, postmortem changes, and the medico-legal aspects of injuries such as blunt, sharp, firearm, transportation, and asphyxial deaths. Students are also introduced to sexual offences, forensic psychiatry, and toxicology with emphasis on common poisons, narcotics, and alcohol.

Learning is reinforced through autopsy demonstrations, museum teaching with forensic models and specimens, and supervised exposure to medico-legal cases in hospital settings. Training in medico-legal documentation, report writing, and courtroom conduct ensures graduates are prepared for the real-world medico-legal responsibilities of medical practice.