Doctorate of Medicine(MD) in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology is a 3 years post-graduate medicine course. This course teaches how to examine dead bodies and extract physical information about the deceased which helps in the criminal investigation. This course includes all aspects of basic medical sciences i.e. Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, and Microbiology as applied to Forensic Medicine. A forensic expert essentially can work in forensic labs and sometimes even in large private detective agencies to establish the link between the criminal and the crime.
Top Colleges
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
- King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
- Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata
- Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore
- B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
Highlights
Course level | Post-graduate |
---|---|
Duration | 3 years |
Age limit | No age limit |
Average course fee | Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per annum |
Average salary | Rs 10 lakh per annum |
Eligibility | MBBS degree |
Placement opportunities | Enforcement Agencies, Police Department, Legal System, Investigative Services of the Government & Private Agencies |
Courses & Eligibility
Course | Duration | Eligibility | Entrance |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor of Medicine(MD) | 3 years | Candidate must have completed MBBS with a 1-year rotating internship. | NEET PG, AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG |
Top Recruiters
- Private medical colleges,
- Government medical colleges
- CBI
- Forensic laboratories
- Narcotics Department
- Research and Analysis Wing
- Law Enforcement Agencies
Admission Process
Eligible candidates can get admission to M.D. in forensic medicine and toxicology in various ways. Mostly the admission is done through the performance in the entrance tests. Some institutions tend to conduct their own entrance tests to offer admission. Also, some colleges provide admission on merit-based. Due to this, the admission process varies from college to college.
Syllabus
Subjects Taught:
- Basic Medical Sciences
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Fundamentals of Forensic Medicine
- Forensic Psychiatry, Traumatology, and Immunology
- Forensic Pediatrics
- General Toxicology
- Chemical Toxicology
- Pharmaceutical Toxicology
- Bio Toxicology
- Medical Toxicology
Skills Required
- Good observation skill
- Should be willing to work for long hours
- Should be opting working in crime scenes
- Detail-oriented
- Should have a methodological approach
- Problem-solving skills
- Should be a team-worker
Top Entrances
- National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG)
- All India Institute for Medical Science (AIIMS) Entrance Exam PG
- The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER)
- Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET)
- All India Combined Entrance Test (AICET)
- Institute Of Medical Sciences Entrance Exam
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) Entrance Exam
Career & Job Prospects
Job Role | Job Description | Average Salary Per Annum (in Rs) |
---|---|---|
Forensic Pathologist | Forensic pathologists perform post-mortems (autopsies) to determine the cause of death. By studying tissue and laboratory results, they're usually able to determine how a person died and give evidence in court about the cause and time of death. | 2 - 4 lakhs |
Forensic Toxicologist | Forensic toxicologists perform scientific tests on bodily fluids and tissue samples to identify any drugs or chemicals present in the body. Working in a lab, the forensic toxicologist performs tests on samples collected by forensic pathologists during an autopsy or by crime scene investigators | 4 - 6 lakhs |
Forensics Manager | Forensics managers oversee the work of life and physical scientists. These managers direct research and investigative laboratory projects and coordinate activities such as testing and quality control. | 6 - 8 lakhs |
Forensic Odontologist | The role of the Forensic Odontologist is to establish a person's identity. Teeth, with their physiologic variations, pathoses, and effects of therapy, record information that remains throughout life and beyond. Forensic odontology has an important role in the recognition of abuse among persons of all ages. | 3 - 5 lakhs |
Forensic Medicine Professor | A Forensic Medicine Professor teaches and conducts research in the field of forensic medicine, produce journal articles, seminar reports, and research papers. | 5 - 7 lakhs |
FAQs
Q: What is Forensic Toxicology?
A: Forensic toxicology is the practice of toxicology and other disciplines such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry to aid medical or legal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use.
Q: What are the areas of Forensic Toxicology?
A: Currently there are 3 types of Forensic Toxicology, which are:
- Postmortem toxicology
- Human-performance testing
- Forensic urine drug testing
Q: What role does forensic toxicology play in a homicide investigation?
A: Forensic toxicology is also applied in cases of post-mortem investigations where toxicology is required to establish if excessive intake of the drug occurred and, if so, whether this contributed to the death. Forensic toxicology testing allows forensic scientists to identify substances and determine a pattern of use.
Q: What are the various types of Toxicology?
A: Different types of toxicology are:
- Analytical toxicology
- Applied toxicology
- Clinical toxicology
- Veterinary toxicology
- Forensic toxicology
- Environment toxicology
- Industrial toxicology
Q: What is the best college providing Forensic Medicine & Toxicology?
A: Top colleges providing M.D. in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology are:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry
- Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
- King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
- Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata
- Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore
- B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
Q: How to get admission to Forensic Medicine & Toxicology?
A: Generally admission into M.D. in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology is done through entrance exams such as NEET PG. While some colleges conduct their own exams such as AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG, etc. While there are some colleges who offer admission through a merit basis.
Q: What is the eligibility criteria for M.D. in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology?
A: The basic eligibility criteria to get admission into M.D. in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology is having an MBBS degree with a 1-year rotating internship.
Q: What are the duties of a Forensic Toxicologist?
A: A Forensic toxicologist performs scientific tests on bodily fluids and tissue samples to identify any drugs or chemicals present in the body. Working in a lab, the forensic toxicologist performs tests on samples collected by forensic pathologists during an autopsy or by crime scene investigators