DNB Forensic Medicine: Admissions, Medical colleges, fees, eligibility criteria details

DNB Forensic Medicine or Diplomate of National Board in Forensic Medicine also known as DNB in Forensic Medicine is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS. The duration of this postgraduate course is 3 years, and it focuses on the study of various concepts related to the field of legal aspects of human injuries and deaths. It focuses on the application of scientific principles for crime investigation.

The course is a full-time course pursued at various accredited institutes/hospitals across the country. Some of the top accredited institutes/hospitals offering this course are Government Medical College- Jammu and Kashmir, and Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital- Bihar.

Admission to this course is done through the NEET PG Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counselling based on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing DNB (Forensic Medicine) from accredited institutes/hospitals is Rs.1,25,000 to Rs. 2,40,000 per year.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or pursue a super-specialization course where DNB Forensic Medicine is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs at positions as Senior residents, Junior Consultants, Consultants etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs. 8,00,000 to Rs. 18,00,000 per year.

DNB is equivalent to MD/MS/DM/MCh degrees awarded respectively in medical and surgical super specialties. The list of recognized qualifications awarded by the Board in various broad and super specialties as approved by the Government of India are included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

The Diplomate of National Board in broad-specialty qualifications and super specialty qualifications when granted in a medical institution with the attached hospital or in a hospital with the strength of five hundred or more beds, by the National Board of Examinations, shall be equivalent in all respects to the corresponding postgraduate qualification and the super-specialty qualification granted under the Act, but in all other cases, senior residency in a medical college for an additional period of one year shall be required for such qualification to be equivalent for the purposes of teaching also.

What is DNB in Forensic Medicine?

Diplomate of National Board in Forensic Medicine, also known as DNB (Forensic Medicine) or DNB in Forensic Medicine is a three-year postgraduate programme that candidates can pursue after completing MBBS.

Forensic Medicine is the branch of medical science dealing with legal aspects of human injuries and deaths. It focuses on the application of scientific principles for crime investigation.

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) has released a curriculum for DNB in Forensic Medicine.

The curriculum governs the education and training of DNBs in Forensic Medicine.

PG education intends to create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in science through research and training.

The required training done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Forensic Medicine would help the specialist recognize the community's health needs. The student should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the recent advances in their speciality.

The candidate should be a highly competent specialist in Forensic Medicine possessing a broad range of skills that will enable her/him to practice Forensic Medicine independently. The PG candidate should also acquire the basic skills in the teaching medical/para-medical students.

The candidate is also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of DNB in Forensic Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for DNB in Forensic Medicine are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet in order to be eligible for admission, which includes:

• Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) now NMC.

• Candidates should have done a compulsory rotating internship of one year in a teaching institution or other institution which is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) now NMC.

• The candidate must have obtained permanent registration of any State Medical Council to be eligible for admission.

• The medical college's recognition cut-off dates for the MBBS Degree courses and compulsory rotatory Internship shall be as prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

• Candidates who have passed the final examination, leading to the award of a Post Graduate Degree (MD/MS) from an Indian University, which is duly recognized as per provisions of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019 and the first schedule of the IMC Act can apply for the DNB Final examination in the same broad specialty.

Admission Process

The admission process contains a few steps to be followed in order by the candidates for admission to DNB in Forensic Medicine. Candidates can view the complete admission process for DNB in Forensic Medicine mentioned below:

• The NEET PG or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Post Graduate is a national-level master's level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses.
• The requirement of eligibility criteria for participation in counselling towards PG seat allotment conducted by the concerned counselling authority shall be in lieu of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (as per the latest amendment) notified by the MCI (now NMC) with prior approval of MoHFW.

Fees Structure

The fee structure for DNB in Forensic Medicine varies from accredited institute/hospital to hospital. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for DNB in Forensic Medicine is Rs.1,25,000 to Rs. 2,40,000 per year.

Colleges offering DNB in Forensic Medicine

Various accredited institutes/hospitals across India offer courses for pursuing DNB (Forensic Medicine).

As per the National Board of Examinations website, the following accredited institutes/hospitals are offering DNB (Forensic Medicine) courses for the academic year 2022-23.

Syllabus

A DNB in Forensic Medicine is a three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Forensic Medicine.

The course content for DNB in Forensic Medicine is given in the NBE Curriculum released by the National Board of Examinations, which can be assessed through the link mentioned below:

1. Basic Sciences and allied Subjects:

2. General principles of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology:

a. Identify the role of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, blood bank, psychiatry, radiology, obstetrics and gynaecology forensic science laboratory and other disciplines of medical science to logically conclude in Medico-legal autopsies and examination of Medico-legal cases.

b. Describe the basic principles of the techniques used in toxicological laboratory namely TLC, GLC, AAS,

c. HPLC, and Breath Alcohol Analyzer.

3. Medical Ethics & Law (Medical Jurisprudence):

a. Describe the history of Forensic Medicine

b. Describe the Legal and Medico-legal system in India.

c. Describe medical ethics and the law in relation to medical practice, various declarations, Medical Council of India, disciplinary control, duties of a registered medical practitioner, consent, confidentiality, medical negligence and consumer protection act.

d. Describe medical ethics and law in relation to organ transplantation, biomedical human research and experimentation, human right and citizen charter.

e. Describe the ethics and law in relation to artificial insemination, abortion, antenatal sex, fetus, genetics, and euthanasia.

f. Interpret the ethics and law applicable to human and animal experimentation.

g. Describe ethics in relation to the aged, women and children.

h. Describe medical ethics and law in relation to nursing and other medical services.

i. Understanding Bio Ethics

4. Clinical Forensic Medicine:

a. Examine, assess legal implications and prepare report or certificate in cases of physical assault, suspected drunkenness, sexual offences, consummation of marriage and disputed paternity.

b. Collect, preserve& despatch specimen/material to the concerned authority and interpret the clinical and laboratory findings which are reported.

c. Examine injured person, prepare Medico-legal report and initiate management.

d. Determine the age of a person for medico-legal purpose.

e. Examine a 'person and assess disability in industrial accidents and diseases.

f. Perform examination and interpret findings for medico legal purposes in cases pertaining to pregnancy, delivery, artificial insemination, abortion, sterilization, impotence & HIV, AIDS and infectious diseases.

g. Describe normal and abnormal sexual behaviour and its medico-legal implications.

h. Examine and assess the medical fitness of a person for insurance, government service, sickness and fitness on recovery from illness, general fitness before taking a person into custody.

i. Examine medico-legal problems related to all clinical and Para clinical disciplines of Medicine.

j. Examine medicolegal problems related to Children, women and elderly

k. Examine the cases of Torture and Violation of Human Rights and related issues.

l. Sensitization related to gender neutrality

5. Forensic Psychiatry:

a. Explain the common terminologies of Forensic importance in Psychiatry.

b. Describe the Medico-legal aspects of Psychiatry and mental health.

c. Describe medico-legal aspects of Drug addiction.

d. Describe role of Psychiatry in crime investigation, punishment and trial.

e. Describe the civil and criminal responsibilities of insane mentally ill person.

f. Describe the role of Psychology in Crime Investigation, punishment and trial

6. Medical Toxicology:

a. Describe the law relating to poisons, drugs, cosmetics, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

b. Examine & diagnose the poisoning cases and apply principles of general management and organ system approach for the management of poisoning cases.

c. Describe the basic principles of toxicokinetcs and toxicodynamics of poisonous substances.

d. Describe the toxic hazards of occupation, industry, environment and the principles of Predictive Toxicology.

e. Collect, Preserve and despatch the material for analysis, interpret the laboratory findings and perform the Medico-legal formalities in a case of poisoning.

f. Describe the methods of identification and bedside analysis of common poisons.

g. Describe the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic poisoning due to-

• Corrosives

• Non-metallic Substances

• Pesticides/Insecticides and Weed Killers

• Metallic Substances

• Irritants of Plant and animal origin and toxic envenomation

• Somniferous Compounds

• Inebriant substances

• Deliriant Substances

• Food contamination / adulteration.

• Substance causing Spinal and cardiac toxicity

• Substances causing Asphyxia (Asphyxiants)

• Household toxins

• Biological and Chemical warfare.

• Environmental Intoxicants

• Occupational Toxicants

7. Forensic Pathology:

a. Apply the principals involved in methods of identification of human remains by race, age, sex, religion, complexion, stature, hair, teeth, anthropometry, dactylography, foot prints, hairs, tattoos, poroscopy and superimposition techniques.

b. Perform medico-legal postmortem and be able to exhume, collect, preserve and despatch specimens or trace evidence to the appropriate authority.

c. Diagnose and describe the pathology of wounds, mechanical and regional injuries, ballistics and wound ballistics, electrical injuries, neglect and starvation, thermal injuries, deaths associated with sexual offences, pregnancy, delivery, abortion, child abuse, dysbarism and barotraumas.

d. Describe pathology of wounds, mechanical and regional injuries, ballistics and wound ballistics, electrical injuries, neglect and starvation, thermal injuries, deaths associated with sexual offences, pregnancy, delivery, abortion, child abuse, dysbarism and barotraumas.

e. Describe 'patho-physiology of shock & neurogenic shock.

f. Describe the patho-physiology of asphyxia, classification, medico legal aspects and postmortem findings of different types of asphyxial deaths.

g. Diagnose and classify death, identify the signs of death, postmortem changes, interpret the autopsy findings, artefacts and results of the other relevant investigations to logically conclude the cause; manner (suicidal, homicidal and accidental) and time of death.

h. Manage medico-legal responsibilities in mass disasters involving multiple deaths like fire, traffic accident, aircraft accident, rail accident and natural calamities.

i. Demonstrate postmortem findings in infant death to differentiate amongst live birth, still birth and dead born.

j. Perform postmortem examination in cases of death in custody, torture and violation of human rights.

k. Perform postmortem examination in cases of death due to alleged medical negligence as in Operative and Anesthetic Deaths.

l. Apply knowledge of Forensic Entomology in respect to time since Death.

8. Fundamentals of Forensic Sciences:

a. Describe the general forensic principles of ballistics, serology; analytical toxicology and photography.

b. Interpret the scene of crime.

c. Examine - bloodstains for blood grouping, seminal stains & hair for medico-legal purpose.

9. Rotation:

a. Department of Emergency Medicine/Trauma Care- 3 Months (One Month Every Year)

b. Radiology-30 Days (10 Days Every Year)

c. Psychiatry-15 Days (5 Days Every Year)

d. SFSL/CFSL) 1 month (2 weeks Every Year for last 2 years)

e. Department of Pathology- 3 Months (One Month Every Year)

f. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology- 2 weeks (One Week Every Year in First Two Years)

g. Department of Anatomy-2 weeks Every Year in First Two Years

Career Options

After completing a DNB in Forensic Medicine, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from, including Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (Forensic Medicine), Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant (Forensic Medicine), Consultant Forensic Medicine Specialist, etc.

Courses After DNB in Forensic Medicine Course

DNB in Forensic Medicine is a specialization course that can be pursued after finishing MBBS. After pursuing a specialization in DNB (Forensic Medicine), a candidate could also pursue super specialization courses recognized by NMC, where DNB (Forensic Medicine) is a feeder qualification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – DNB in Forensic Medicine Course

Question: What is a DNB in Forensic Medicine?

Answer: DNB Forensic Medicine or Diplomate of National Board in Forensic Medicine also known as DNB in Forensic Medicine is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS.

Question: Is DNB in Forensic Medicine equivalent to MD in Forensic Medicine?

Answer: DNB in Forensic Medicine is equivalent to MD in Forensic Medicine, the list of recognized qualifications awarded by NBE in various broad and super specialties as approved by the Government of India are included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

Question: What is the duration of a DNB in Forensic Medicine?

Answer: DNB in Forensic Medicine is a postgraduate programme of three years.

Question: What is the eligibility of a DNB in Forensic Medicine?

Answer: Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Question: What is the scope of a DNB in Forensic Medicine?

Answer: DNB in Forensic Medicine offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

Question: What is the average salary for a DNB in Forensic Medicine postgraduate candidate?

Answer: The DNB in Forensic Medicine candidate's average salary is between Rs. 8,00,000 to Rs. 18,00,000 per year depending on the experience.

Question: Are DNB Forensic Medicine and MD Forensic Medicine equivalent for pursuing teaching jobs?

Answer: The Diplomate of National Board in broad-speciality qualifications and super speciality qualifications when granted in a medical institution with attached hospital or in a hospital with the strength of five hundred or more beds, by the National Board of Examinations, shall be equivalent in all respects to the corresponding postgraduate qualification and the super-speciality qualification granted under the Act, but in all other cases, senior residency in a medical college for an additional period of one year shall be required for such qualification to be equivalent for the purposes of teaching also.