Abstract

Medico-legal death investigations form a critical interface between forensic science and legal systems, providing essential insights into the cause, manner, and circumstances of death. This paper explores the global landscape of medico-legal death investigations, emphasizing the integration of scientific techniques with legal procedures across diverse jurisdictions. Drawing on case studies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and India, it provides a comparative analysis of the legal frameworks, expert witness roles, and forensic methodologies employed in each country. The paper also reviews the influence of key international conventions, including the Minnesota Protocol, Istanbul Protocol, and guidelines issued by the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which collectively shape global standards in medico-legal practice. In addition to highlighting advanced forensic techniques such as post-mortem imaging, toxicological analysis, and DNA profiling, the study also addresses persistent challenges including infrastructural limitations, discrepancies in expert witness standards, and the lack of uniform procedures. The paper underscores the pressing need for international cooperation and harmonization of medico-legal procedures to ensure consistency, transparency, and scientific reliability, especially in cases involving cross-border crimes, mass disasters, or violations of human rights. Through this comprehensive analysis, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of how forensic science can be more effectively leveraged within legal systems to uphold justice, human dignity, and public health across different socio-legal contexts. Ultimately, the study calls for sustained global dialogue and policy reform to strengthen medico-legal death investigations as a pillar of both national and international justice systems.

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