| Death in common parlance signifies cessation of life. Medically it is classified as somatic, brain and molecular death. Extinction of life caused by cessation of respiration, circulation and cerebral function is known as somatic death. Brain death occurs when all functions of the brain come to an abrupt end. Even after death cells remain alive for some time and thereafter they also extinguish. It is known as molecular death. One of the causes of death, as mentioned above is cessation of respiration caused by obstruction to the respiratory tract. The cause of such obstruction may be either the internal conditions of the body or application of external force. The latter is resorted to end one's own life or the life of others. It is employed to mislead the crime detection. It has it's own medico – legal importance. In this article an attempt is made to analyse the medico – legal aspects of the asphyxial death which is caused by the application of external force. |