Study of Assessment of Medico-Legal Knowledge among Interns and Post Graduate Students

Abstract

Introduction: Forensic Medicine and Toxicology is an essential subject for medical students as it deals mainly with
legal aspects
Aim and objectives: To assess medico legal knowledge and awareness in interns and post graduate students.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire with 20 questions was designed and distributed to
120 interns and 80 post graduate students from January 2022 to April 2022. The data was collected and analyzed
statistically for number and percentage using EPI-Info statistical software.
Results: Total 200 students were included in our study. We found that 84 (70%) interns and 32 (40%) post
graduate students had no proper knowledge in handling medico legal cases independently. 55 (45.83%) interns
and 63 (78.75%) post graduate students were of opinion that the present UG teaching is not sufficient for them to
tackle medico legal cases. Only 36 (30%) interns and 33 (41.25%) post graduate students were aware about the best
type of consent in MLC and 25 (20.83%) interns and 65 (81.25%) post graduate students were aware of Consumer
Protection Act.
Conclusion: We detected that the knowledge about various medico-legal aspects needs to be freshened up time
to time chiefly at internship and postgraduate levels. They need be refreshed about various medico-legal aspects
which can be done by giving training to them.