Legal and Ethical Issues Associated With Challenges in the Implementation of the Electronic Medical Record System and Its Current Laws in India.

Electronic health records (EHR) have revolutionized healthcare by providing efficient access to patient information, but their implementation poses various challenges. This paper examines the ethical and legal issues surrounding EHR adoption, particularly focusing on the healthcare landscape in India. Ethical considerations, including patient autonomy, confidentiality, beneficence, and justice, must guide EHR implementation to protect patient rights and privacy. Legal issues such as medical errors, malpractice, data breaches, and billing inaccuracies underscore the importance of robust policies and security measures. Threats to EHRs, such as phishing attacks, malware, encryption vulnerabilities, and insider threats, emphasize the need for comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. Overcoming challenges in EHR implementation requires meticulous planning, financial investment, staff training, and stakeholder support. Despite the complexities involved, the benefits of EHR adoption in improving patient care and operational efficiency justify the efforts required to address legal, ethical, and technical concerns. Embracing EHRs while mitigating associated risks is essential for delivering high-quality healthcare in the digital age.

Electro-Amputation of Lower Limbs Due to a High-Voltage Shock: Report of an Unusual Case.

Electrical injuries due to high voltage are not frequent but can cause a high mortality rate. The body of a 45-year-old security guard was found at an apartment with an alleged history of being electrocuted while working when he came into contact with a high-voltage transformer. The police brought the body for a post-mortem examination. The autopsy revealed superficial to deep-degree burns with bilateral lower limb amputation. The cause of death was shock due to 80%-85% of the total body surface area being burned due to high-voltage electrocution. This article suggests a new mechanism, i.e., electrocution-induced amputation, called electro-amputation, which is unusual and not reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. The authors also recommend a forensic surgeon should consider detailed circumstantial findings, a scene of crime visit, and a meticulous post-mortem examination before concluding the exact cause of death as high-voltage electrocution.

Fatality Due to Button Battery Lodgment in the Upper Digestive Tract of a Neonate: An Unusual Presentation.

Foreign body ingestion is not uncommonly seen in children, with most such ingestions occurring between 6 months to 3 years of age. Button battery ingestion constitutes approximately 2% of all ingested foreign bodies in children. Button batteries are disc-shaped power units used for various electronic appliance, gadgets, and toys and often contain various toxic chemical substances such as heavy metal salts and alkali. Button batteries may become lodged in the upper digestive tract, producing severe damage to the adjacent tissues by various mechanisms. A death of a neonate due to a button battery lodging in the upper digestive tract leading to tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal perforation is presented. To the best of authors' knowledge, the present case is the youngest death reported due to button battery lodgment, and the challenges of investigation in such a case are discussed.