SIGNS OF DEATH

Law and science are interrelated, and forensic science serves as a fine example of this bond. Death, the ultimate conclusion of life, often marks the beginning of a forensic investigation. To determine whether a person is dead, thanatology—a science dealing with all aspects of death—is applied. While psychology studies the living, forensic science focuses on the dead.

The law leaves no detail unnoticed, whether a body is in an organic or inorganic state. Today, we delve into the signs of death, categorised into three stages: immediate signs, early signs, and late signs.

Immediate Signs

Immediate signs include:

• Insensibility and Loss of Reflexes: The body shows no response to stimuli.
• Cessation of Circulation: If the heart does not respond for at least five continuous minutes, this constitutes proof of death.
• Cessation of Respiration: While respiration may temporarily stop due to voluntary acts or incidents like drowning, the absence of breath sounds for a sustained period serves as evidence of death.

Early Signs

Early signs appear within 12 to 24 hours after death:

• Algor Mortis: A progressive fall in body temperature. The rate of cooling helps estimate the time of death.
• Changes in the Cornea: The cornea loses its clear, glistening appearance and becomes dry, cloudy, and opaque due to the cessation of tear production.
• Skin Pallor: The skin turns pale and takes on an ashy-white appearance, especially noticeable in fair-skinned individuals. The skin also loses elasticity.
• Postmortem Lividity (Livor Mortis): This is the discoloration of the skin due to the accumulation of blood in the capillaries and small veins of the dependent parts of the body. It typically begins within an hour after death.

Late Signs

Late signs commence after 24 hours:

• Mummification: The skin becomes tightly adhered to the bones due to the dehydration of body tissues.
• Rigor Mortis: Muscles and joints stiffen due to chemical changes caused by the cessation of blood circulation.
• Saponification: The body transforms into a yellowish-white, greasy substance with a rancid smell.
• Decomposition: The final stage where the body undergoes bacterial action, transitioning from an organic state to complete decomposition.