State Forensic Nursing Workshop – 2026

The Department of Nursing Services, JIPMER, in collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, JIPMER, successfully organized the State Forensic Nursing Workshop – 2026 on 24th and 25th July 2026 at the JIPMER Academic Centre, Puducherry. The two-day workshop, themed “Foundations of Clinical Forensic Nursing”, was conducted under the motto “Where Compassion Meets Justice, and Nursing Meets Evidence.” The programme was designed for nursing professionals, nurse educators, students, and researchers, with the objective of strengthening knowledge and practical competencies in clinical forensic nursing, medicolegal documentation, and evidence-based patient care.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Saka Vinod Kumar, Medical Superintendent, JIPMER, and successfully organized under the leadership of the Organizing Chairpersons—Dr Vinod Ashok Chaudhari, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology; Mrs Pushpalatha K., Officer-in-Charge-cum-Nursing Superintendent; Mrs Saroja L., Nursing Superintendent; and Mrs Jane Mary Andrew, Nursing Superintendent, JIPMER, Puducherry. The event was coordinated by the Organizing Secretaries, Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha, Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, and Mrs Sathiyakani Thangaraj, Deputy Nursing Superintendent.

The Organizing Committee from the Department of Nursing Services, comprising Mr Sivaraj M., Mr Dinakaran S., Mr Rabeesh Kumar, Mrs Anitha C. R., Mr Madhukumar D., and Mrs Gomathi M., played a pivotal role in planning, logistics, participant coordination, and the seamless execution of the workshop.

The programme was further strengthened by the guidance of the Academic Advisory Committee, comprising Dr Siddhartha Das, Professor; Dr Ambika Prasad Patra, Professor; Dr Naveen A., Assistant Professor; and Dr Sathish A., Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry. Their academic oversight ensured the scientific quality and successful implementation of the workshop.

The scientific programme comprised a series of expert lectures, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and hands-on skill station training. The major academic sessions included:

• Medicolegal Examination of Sexual Assault Survivors and Evidence Collection
• Pregnancy Management in Medicolegal Cases
• Simulation-Based Training in History Taking, Physical Examination, Evidence Collection, and Documentation
• The Nurse’s Perspective in Medicolegal Cases
• The Police Perspective in Medicolegal Cases

The scientific programme was delivered by distinguished resource persons from the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, with active contributions from the faculty members, Senior and Junior Residents of the department, and Nursing Officers from the Department of Nursing Services.

Hands-on Skill Station Training

A major highlight of the workshop was the hands-on skill station training, coordinated by Dr Naveen A., Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, and Dr Sathish A., Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry.

The training was supported by the Senior Residents Dr Deepu Mathew, Dr Thamizhraj, Dr Abisha Tino L N, and Dr Richard Robert S, and the Junior Residents Dr Ashal Tom, Dr Karpora Sundara Pandyen P, Dr Keerthikumaran P, Dr Prajwal B. S., Dr Sowmiya P, Dr Anirudh K, Dr Poornima T, Dr Dheemanth U. Y., Dr Vamshi Krishna K. S. B., Dr Nandha M, Dr Palagatti Jyothi Reddy, Dr Ravindra Singh Rathore, Dr Caroline Jacob, Dr Govardhana Kishore V, and Dr Sanibha Shongwan, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry.

Through simulation-based learning, participants received practical training in the medicolegal examination of sexual assault survivors, identification of injuries and assessment of their medicolegal significance, crime scene investigation, collection and preservation of forensic evidence, medicolegal documentation, and application of forensic principles in clinical practice.

The workshop served as an excellent platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and capacity building, equipping nursing professionals with the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence required to effectively integrate forensic nursing principles into routine patient care. The programme also emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical standards, preserving the rights and dignity of patients, ensuring proper medicolegal documentation and evidence handling, and contributing effectively to the administration of justice.

Guest Lecture in the Dept. of FMT:

1. A guest lecture on “Virtopsy and its Legal Aspects” was delivered by Kishanth, pursuing DM in Forensic Radiology at AIIMS Rishikesh, at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, on March 16, 2026.
2. A guest lecture on “Medical and Forensic Toxicology in India: Curriculum, Systems, and Implementation” was delivered by Dr Neithiya T., Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Puducherry, at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, on National Forensic Medicine Day, May 12 2026.
3. A guest lecture on “Organ Transplantation: Procedure, Documentation, and Medico-legal Aspects” was delivered by Mr Guru Ranjan, Transplant Coordinator, JIPMER, Puducherry, at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, on July 10, 2026.
4. A guest lecture on “Relevance of Histopathology in Forensic Practice- with Special Emphasis on Setting Up a Histopathology Laboratory” was delivered by Dr Kirthika R, pursuing DM in Forensic Histopathology at AIIMS Jodhpur, at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, on, August 12, 2026.

Major Conferences, CME & Workshops organized by the Dept. of FMT:

• Organized TOXOCON-8, 8th Annual National Conference of Indian Society of Toxicology, 9–10 August 2014.
• Organized Forensic Medicon 2018 (IAFM-2018), 39th Annual National Conference of Indian Academy of Forensic, 1–3 February 2018.
• Organized SIMLA-2012, 9th Annual National Conference of South India Medico-legal Association, 21–23 September 2012.
• Organized a Hybrid National level CME on "Domestic Violence – Health Perspective and Legal Recourse", 8th April 2022.
• National Workshop on "Forensic Update on Autopsy and Infection", 19 January 2017, under banner of Medicolegal Association of Pondicherry.
• Organised Workshop on "Embalming and Museum Techniques", Jul 2022.
• Organised CME on "Management of Sexual Offence Cases", Jul 2016 and July 2017, under the banner of Medicolegal Association of Pondicherry.

AWARDS WON BY THE RESIDENTS

Dr Dheemanth U Y, Junior Resident, Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology was awarded 1st Prize for his Oral Presentation(Postgraduate Category) on ‘Temporal Association versus Causation: Fatal Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation Following a Non venomous Oriental Rat Snake Bite’ at the 22nd Annual Conference of South India Medico Legal Association, SIMLACON 2026 organized by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, on 07/08/2026 to 09/08/2026 under the guidance of Prof(Dr). Ambika Prasad Patra, Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

Dr Anirudh K, Final year Junior Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology received the 3rd Prize Dr. G. M. Krishna Rao Cash Award (Postgraduate Category) for his Oral paper presentation titled “Fatal Cranio-cerebral Injury Following An Errant Firework Rocket: An Autopsy Case Report” at 22nd Annual Conference of South India Medico Legal Association, SIMLACON 2026 organized by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, on 07/08/2026 to 09/08/2026 under the guidance of Prof(Dr). Ambika Prasad Patra, Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

Dr Poornima T, Junior Resident, Dept. Forensic Medicine & Toxicology was awarded 3rd Prize for her Oral Presentation (Postgraduate Category) on ‘Fatal thermal injuries in a patient with decompensated chronic liver disease- A case report’ at the 22nd Annual Conference of South India Medico Legal Association, SIMLACON 2026 organized by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, on 07/08/2026 to 09/08/2026 co-authored by Prof(Dr). Siddhartha Das, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS & MILESTONES

1. TEACHING:

• Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha:

1. A new vocational Training & Educational initiative on ‘mortuary assistant course’ was started in 2017 under the headship of Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha.

1. JIPMER Telemedicine Nodal Centre Nominated Dr Ambika Prasad Patra as NMCN Instructor for Saksham by National Medical College Network of National Medical Commission - a National level teaching portal, providing free of cost online teaching modules to the medical Undergraduates. This Public Health Courses Offered by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
2. Permitted to be the PhD Guide as per the extant JIPMER eligibility criteria for the PhD sessions from January 2026 onwards.

1. PATENTS:

• Dr Ambika Prasad Patra:

1. The Innovation of Dr Ambika Prasad Patra titled "An Automated System and Method for Real-Time Determination of Death Interval" registered with Indian Patent Office [No. 202341075404/Reviewed 25/01/2025] and now applied for the International Patent registration. It’s a computer and smartphone-based application for estimating death intervals based on a project on nomogram-based thermometric techniques. Applied through institute JIPMER, Govt of India, Dhanvantari Nagar Puducherry.

1. COPYRIGHTS:

• Dr Ambika Prasad Patra:

1. The Innovation of Dr Ambika Prasad Patra titled "Death Time Calculator (DTC, Version 1.0)", the literary work on a computer-based program was submitted and registered by Copyright Office of India [No. XIV/5178/2025-CO/SW/181938 dated 14/02/2025].

1. TEXTBOOK PUBLICATIONS

• Patra AP, Shaha KK, editors. Medical jurisprudence & clinical forensic medicine: an Indian perspective. 1st ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2024.Textbooks Chapter Contribution:
• Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha Contributed a textbook Chapter for the textbook of Forensic Psychiatry by P.C. Dixit.
• Menezes RG, Atreya A., Madadin M., Das S. Deaths: Dowry Killings. In: Payne-James J, Byard RW (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2025. Third edition, vol. 2, pp. 81–89. UK: Elsevier. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21441-7.00052-2.
• Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra contributed a textbook Chapter titled “Modern Autopsy Techniques and Safe Morgue Practices" for the popular textbook series on Forensic Medicine & Toxicology ‘Recent Advances in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology' Volume 4 by Prof. Dr. Gautam Biswas.

• Patra AP, Chaudhari VA, Neithiya T. Crimes Involving Infants and Children. In Medical Jurisprudence & Clinical Forensic Medicine 2023. (pp. 126-137). CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003139126-14
• Patra AP, Chaudhari VA, Neithiya T. Sexual Crimes. In Medical Jurisprudence & Clinical Forensic Medicine: An Indian Perspective. 2023. CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/9781003139126-15

• Monographs:
  Patra AP. Thanatochemistry of protected body fluids: a promising tool for death investigators. Chișinău (Moldova): Eliva Press SRL; 2024.Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13622527

RESEARCH PROJECTS & PUBLICATIONS

Extramural Research Grants: ₹ 16.78 Lakhs from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for a Project of Dr. Kusa Kumar Shaha & Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra.

Intramural (JIPMER) Research Grants: Multiple ongoing projects with sum total ~ ₹ 8 Lakh for the projects of Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra, Dr. Siddhartha Das, Dr. Vinod Ashok Chaudhari and Dr Naveen A.

Publications: 251+ papers in indexed journals by all faculty members.

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTION TO BIOMEDICAL JOURNALS

• Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha:

1. Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology (2015-2020)

1. Joint editor of Journal of Indian Academy Forensic Medicine (2022-25)

1. Editor for the Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology (2015-2020)
2. Guest Editor, Cureus Journal of Medical Science, Springer Nature: for articles received for the Special Collections titled Ethical and Medicolegal Frontiers in Modern Medical Practice.

1. Member of National Advisory Board of –

• Journal of Forensic Medicine Science and Law
• Indian academy of Forensic Medicine
• Medicolegal Association of Maharashtra
• South India Medicolegal Association
• Indian society of Toxicology

• Guest Editor, Journal Clinical Medicine Insights: Case Reports, SAGE Publications: for articles received for the Special Collections titled Clinico-ethical Medical Case Reports.

Major Awards, Honors & Recognitions

Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha:

• Dr Ambika Prasad Patra and Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha jointly felicitated as ‘Best Editor of Indian Toxicology Medical Journals’ by the Indian Society of Toxicology at AIMS, Cochin, on 29^th December 2016, in the category of Editor for the Toxicology Journals.

Dr. Siddhartha Das:

• Received first Prize (Oral Presentation) at ICFMTCON 2024 (Chandigarh) for "Ancillary Investigations in Electrocution Fatalities."
• Received 2^nd Prize (Oral Presentation) at Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine Conference (AIIMS Nagpur) 2023.

Dr Ambika Prasad Patra:

• Felicitated by the Hon'ble Vice-chancellor of Pondicherry University (2024), Prof. K. Tharanikkarasu and Prof. Venkata Rao, Dean of Students Welfare Department of Pondicherry University (government of India) for periodic Awareness Programs on Substance Abuse among University Students.
• Felicitated as best Editor by the Indian Society of Toxicology (2016) for the contributions to the field of Indian toxicology as the Editor of the Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology (2015-2020), the official publication of Indian Society of Toxicology (Reg. 2005).
• Felicitated as the Guest of Honor by the, Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, Directorate of Distance Education, Pondicherry University, on the eve of DDE Alumni Meet – 2024 in February 2024 at the Convention-Cum-Cultural Centre of Pondicherry University.
• Received the ‘Sentinel of Science’ Award (2016) for being among the ‘Top 10 reviewers in Medicine’ by Publons Academy (Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science), for peer review contributed to the biomedical journals.
• Selected as a Certified Mentor for the Practical Peer Review Training Course offered by the Publons Academy, Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science meant for the peer-reviewers affiliated with the Publons Academy (2021).
• Received a certificate of distinction (2021) as ‘Best Mentor of the Year’, rated by peer-reviewers of the Publons Academy, Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science for his mentorship contributions to the peer reviewers affiliated to the Publons academy.
• The project of Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra and Dr. Neithiya, Junior Resident and Co-Guides Dr. Kusa Kumar Shaha, Dr. Harichandrakumar Awarded First Prize with Cash ₹ 5 Lakhs by National Forensic Science University, Govt. of India at FORENSIC HACKATHON 2023.
• First Prize for the paper ‘Unusual Fatal Case of Oriental Rat-snake Bite with Pre-existing Cerebro-vascular Malformation’ at the 5th JIPMER Scientific Society (JSS) annual event, held on 21st November 2019.
• Received the Second prize (senior Faculty category) for the paper “The Menace of Statutory Rape in India and Implementation of Gillick’s Competence Test: A promising solution” at PAFMATCON 2025, Annual National Conference of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, organized by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 21, 22 March 2025.
• Best Poster Prize (First Prize - Faculty Category) for ‘Fatal Haemorrhage from Arteriovenous Malformation of Brain Following Minor Trauma: A Case Report’ at the 25th Annual Karnataka Medico-legal Society Conference 2017, Department of Forensic Medicine, BMCRI, Bangalore, 1-3 December 2017.
• Best Paper Award (First Prize - Faculty Category) for ‘Venom Induced Raynaud's Phenomenon: A Case Review’ at TOXOCON-12, Indian Society of Toxicology, Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, 6-7 April 2018.
• Best Paper Award [Jipmer Golden Jubilee (GJ-Straus) 2019-20] at the 5th JIPME Research Day for the project ‘Institute-based Cross-sectional Study to Estimate Stature Using Anthropometric Parameters of Lower Limbs of Fatal Cases from South Indian Population’ on 10th January 2020.
• Best Paper Prize for the presentation titled ‘Medical Negligence - Current Scenario in India’ at the Annual Conference of the Scientific Society of the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, on 8th March 2022.
• Best Paper Prize for the scientific presentation ‘Ethical and Legal Challenges if Nanotechnology Approached to Fight Against COVID-19’ at a symposium organized by the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 27-29 January 2022.

Dr. Vinod Ashok Chaudhari:

• First Prize for Poster Presentation for “An Unusual Case of Thinner Intoxication” in TOXOCON-9, IX Annual conference of Indian Society of Toxicology, from 21.08.2015 to 23.08.2015 at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai.
• Second prize for faculty oral presentation on “Unusual case of ileal perforation due to assault” at XVI Annual conference of South India Medicolegal Association 2019 at Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Centre, Puducherry.
• Guided a research paper titled “Rare case of biliary peritonitis due to rupture of common bile duct as a result of blunt trauma abdomen” at Forensic Medicon-2020. Awarded the second prize for PG oral presentation at Forensic Medicon-2020 (Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine), Apollo Medical College & Hospital, Hyderabad, January 30 to February 1, 2020.
• Guided a research paper titled “Sexual dimorphism from osteometric analysis of sternum and ribs using CT scan in the South Indian Population.” at Striatum 2.0. Awarded the third prize in Mathesis UG oral presentation in Striatum 2.0 at UG international conference, IGMC, Puducherry, July 20 to July 24, 2024.
• Guided a research paper titled “Sexual dimorphism from maxillary sinus dimensions and bizygomatic distance using CT scan in the South Indian Population.” at Illuminati 2024. Awarded the First prize in the MJAFI promising research award at the Annual UG conference conducted by AFMC, Pune, March 21 to March 23, 2024.

Dr Naveen A:

• Received President’s Gold Medal in Diplomate of National Board (DNB) in Forensic Medicine at the 22nd Convocation of National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, 10^th May 2024.
• Awarded Second prize (Faculty category) for oral paper presentation on “A Rare Case of Lethal Lactic Acid Poisoning: An Autopsy Case Report” at the “IAMLECON 2024” - 14^th International Conference of Indian Academy of Medicolegal Experts, AIIMS, Jodhpur, 28/09/2024 - 01/10/2024. Co-authored by Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra, Dr. Deepu Mathew, Dr. Keerthi Kumaran (Dept. of FMT), and Pampa Ch Toi (Dept. of Pathology).