Sudden death in advanced abdominal pregnancy: a case report and discussion of the related medicolegal issues. (April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pradhan, M; Sreenivas, M; Singh, Bajrang; Behera, C; Dikshit, P C
• Is Part Of: Medicine, science and the law. Volume 53:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2013-04
• Subjects: Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Medical laws and legislation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 614.105
• DOI: 10.1258/msl.2012.012014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-8024

Abstract

We report sudden unexpected death in a 35-year-old woman with pregnancy of seven months duration. There was an allegation by the parents of the woman that she was subjected to an assault prior to death. Autopsy examination showed an abdominal pregnancy with a dead fetus, ruptured gestational sac, massive haemorrhage and secondary placental attachment. During her antenatal check-ups, she had persistently complained of abdominal pain and loose stools, but the diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy was missed clinically and on ultrasound scan. In this paper we discuss the diagnostic difficulties and medicolegal issues in such cases.