SOME MEDICOLEGAL CONSIDERATIONS Anil Aggrawal Department of Forensic Medicine Maulana Azad Medical College New Delhi-110002 India

Age estimation in the living is one of the most important tasks of a forensic practitioner especially in developing countries where birth records are often not wellmaintained. Despite the fact that there are a number of laws requiring registration of births (e.g Registration of Births and Deaths Act in ndia ! most births are not properly recorded. "e get a number of cases every day for estimation of age in living individuals in various situations# both criminal and civil. $et us have a glimpse into a few such situations. Ci il Cases %he minimum legal age for marriage in ndia is &' years for boys and '( years for girls. "hen a boy and girl want to marry in a court of law (this usually happens when they have eloped and want to marry against the wishes of their parents!# the court official demands an age certificate from both of them. n case of nonproduction of this certificate# the court may refer the case to an age clinic (as is regularly run by the )orensic *edicine department of the *aulana A+ad *edical ,ollege# -ew Delhi# ndia! for estimation of age. Criminal cases %he legal age of consent by a girl for se.ual intercourse according to ndian law is '/ years. f a boy and a girl have eloped and have had intercourse willingly# the boy may still be prosecuted for rape# if the girl happens to be below '/ years of age. f the girl were above '/ years# it is not infrequent in such cases for the girl0s parents to destroy her birth certificate (even if it were there!# and claim their daughter0s age to be below '/ years. %his is done with a view to have revenge from the boy who instigated their daughter to run away from home. importance )ollowing ages are usually relevant in various medicolegal situations1 Medicolegal importance of 1 !ear of age n such cases too# the police refers the case to the doctor for estimation of age. Ages of Medicolegal

'. According to 2outh ,arolina 3s child passenger restraint law# ,hildren from
birth to ' year old# or who weigh less than &4 pounds# must be secured in a rear-facing child safety seat. (http155www.buckleupsc.com5cps5laws.htm!.

"ashington e.ist

state in

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( http155depts.washington.edu5booster5anton6skeen6bill.html!. 2imilar laws (http155www.ideamerge.com5leasing5childseat.html!

&. n some countries# such as ,anada# taly# the 7nited 8ingdom and Australia #
murder of a child less than one year of age by its own mother is not considered homicide. nstead# the mother is charged with a lesser offence of infanticide for which the punishment is lesser. %his is because such murders could be due to post-partum depression# or 0baby-blues0 9supposed to be due to the effects of lactation and other aspects of post-natal care:. ( http155en.wikipedia.org5wiki5*urder! Medicolegal importance of 2 !ears of age

'. According to the ,ode of *aryland# in certain cases of alimony# a

determination of potential income may not be made for a parent who is caring for a child under the age of & years for whom the parents are ;ointly and severally responsible. ()or details visithttp155www.dhr.state.md.us5csea5help.htm! Medicolegal importance of " !ears of age

'. According to the 78 law# if a child under < years old is carried in the front
seat of a car# an appropriate child restraint *72% be used (the adult seat belt is not sufficient!. ,hildren under < years old may not travel in the front unless they are in a child restraint. f carried in the rear seat# an appropriate child restraint *72% be used# ) A=A $AB$>. f an appropriate restraint is fitted in the front of the car# but not the rear# children under < years old *72% sit in the front and use that restraint. Remember# you could move the restraint from the front to the rear if you wish. Rearward-facing seats are designed to be used in the rear as well as the front. ?ou should always put a rearward-facing baby seat in the rear if is a front passenger airbag fitted. (http155www.childcarseats.org.uk5law5inde..htm! Medicolegal importance of # !ears of age

'. 7nder @ennsylvania law# children under A years of age are required to use a
child restraint device. -onuse is a primary offense. ,hildren A to under ( years of age are required to use a booster seat. t is a secondary offense. %he fine is a sliding fine up to B'44.44.

(http155www.psp.state.pa.us5psp5cwp5view.aspCAD<'4EFD'/G<HH! Medicolegal importance of $ !ears of age '. According to 2ection / (a! of %he Iindu *inority and Juardianship Act 'HG/# a minor who has not completed the age of G years shall ordinarily be in the custody of the mother. Medicolegal importance of % !ears of age

'. 7nder ,alifornia law# automobile passengers under / years or lighter than /4
pounds must be securely fastened in a child safety seat. (http155webtrafficschool.com5wts5content5,alifornia5s<6'ca.html!. Medicolegal importance of & !ears of age

'. According to 2ection (& of the ndian @enal ,ode ( I.P.C.!# a child less than K
years of age can not commit an offence. [There is a common misconception among several students (unfortunately propagated by many text books) that under the Indian ail!ays "ct #$%&' a child even under ( years of age is liable for punishment' if it does anything maliciously to !reck or attempt to !reck a train' to hurt or attempt to hurt persons traveling by rail!ay or to endanger the safety of persons traveling by rail!ay by !illful act or by !ay of rash or negligent act or omission. This is not correct as the Indian ail!ays "ct has no! been completely modified. The ne! "ct !as passed in #%$%' and it does not have any provision like this. Please click here for brief history of Indian rail!ays' !hich gives the history of ho! Indian ail!ays "ct' #$%& !as passed. Please click here to see a mention ail!ays "ct' #%$%. ) of the ne! Indian

Medicolegal importance of ' !ears of age

'. 7nder @ennsylvania law# ,hildren under A years of age are required to use a
child restraint device. -onuse is a primary offense. ,hildren A to under ( years of age are required to use a booster seat. t is a secondary offense. %he fine is a sliding fine up to B'44.44. (http155www.psp.state.pa.us5psp5cwp5view.aspCAD<'4EFD'/G<HH! Medicolegal importance of ( !ears of age

'. According to the #$#% *actory "ct of +, # no child under H could work in
factories. ,hildren from H to '/ were allowed to work a ma.imum of K& hours per week with one and a half hours a day for meals. %his age was however later reduced to ( years by the #$-.raham/s *actory "ct. (http155www.historylearningsite.co.uk5law.htm! Medicolegal importance of 10 !ears of age '. According to 2ection </H of I.P.C.# to constitute a crime of kidnapping or abducting a child with the intention of taking dishonestly any moveable property from its person# the age of such child should be below '4 years.

&. 7nder the #$-0 1ines and Colleries "ct all women and children under '4
were banned from working underground. (http155www.historylearningsite.co.uk5law.htm! Medicolegal importance of 12 !ears of age '. According to 2ection (< of I.P.C.# the crime committed by a child between K'& years of age is not an offence# if he hasn0t attained sufficient maturity of understanding. %he ;udge often decides this issue. According to 2ection H4 of .@.,# consent of a child below '& years is not a consent# as is intended by any section of I.P.C. &. According to 2ection (H of .@.,# a child below '& years can not give valid consent to suffer any harm which may occur from an act done in good faith and for its benefit (as a general physical e.amination by a doctor! <. 7nder the ndian Laths Amendment Act 'H<H# the unsworn evidence of a child below '& years of age is admissible if the court thinks he does not understand the nature of an oath. A. 7nder the Bombay 2hops and >stablishments Act 'HA(# no child who has not completed '& years shall be employed in these establishments. G. According to 2ection <'K of .@.,# e.posure or abandonment of a child less than '& years of age by parents or person having care of it# may lead to punishment for K years and5or fine. /. According to 2ection <K/ of .@.,# if a man rapes his own wife and her age is less than '& years# he will get punishment as if he raped any other girl (the sentence is not less than K years# and may e.tend to life!. But if he raped his wife who was above '& years of age# but below 'G years# he would get a lesser sentence of only & years. %his clause may appear parado.ical as the minimum legal age for marriage in ndia is '( years for girls. But despite this

law# many marriages of young girls are going on in ndia # and section <K/ caters to such cases. K. 7nder the ,hildren and ?oung @ersons Act 'H<< E 'HG& of 78 # it is an offence for a person over '/ years to have a child under '& years in a room with an unguarded fire.

(. According to section '/ of Indian "rms ules #%20# any person below the age
of si.teen years but not below the age of twelve years may be allowed to use a fire-arm for the purpose of training in the use of such fire-arm in the immediate presence# or under the direct supervision and guidance of an adult instructor or the licensee1 @rovided that no person below the age of si.teen years shall be allowed carry and firearm requiring a licence# in a public place# e.cept in the immediate presence and supervision of the person who is lawfully entitled to carry such firearm. (http155www.abhi;eetsingh.com5arms5india5laws5rules5rule6'G6&A.html!. Medicolegal importance of 1" !ears of age '. According to 2ection <KG of .@.,# (local amendment by *anipur

Jovernment!# se.ual intercourse with one0s own wife# even with her consent# is rape if she was below '< years (%his provision is for the state of *anipur only by a local amendment. )or the rest of the country this age is 'G years! &. n >ngland and "ales # under section G of %he 2e.ual Lffences Act 'HG/# it is felony for a man to have unlawful se.ual intercourse with a girl under the age of '<. Medicolegal importance of 1# !ears of age '. 7nder the law of >ngland # a boy 'A year of age can not commit rape ( n ndia no such age has e.plicitly been mentioned under the law pertaining to rape# but sections (& and (< of @, serve as guidelines. According to these sections a boy below K years can not commit rape. f the age of the boy were between K-'& years# then the ;udge would decide if his action amounts to an offence or not! &. According to Article &A of %he ndian ,onstitution# a child below 'A years shall not be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in other ha+ardous employment (same provisions are reproduced in 2ection /K of %he ndian )actories Act 'HA(! <. According to 2ection &< of the 7nited @rovinces >.cise Act# a licensed vendor

is not allowed to employ children under the age of 'A years# in the premises in which foreign liquor or country spirit is consumed by the public. A. 7nder section <KG of the I.P.C. (local amendment by *anipur Jovernment!# se.ual intercourse with or without consent is rape if the age of the woman is less than 'A years (%his provision is for the state of *anipur only by a local amendment. )or the rest of the country this age is '/ years!.

G. According to 2ection 'G of The 3uvenile 3ustice (Care and Protection of

Children)' "ct 0&&&# where a Board is satisfied on inquiry that a ;uvenile has committed an offence# then# notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force# the Board may# if it thinks so fit order the parent of the ;uvenile or the ;uvenile himself to pay a fine# if he is over fourteen years of age and earns money. (http155www.helplinelaw.com5bareact5inde..phpCdspD;uvenile-;ustice! Medicolegal importance of 1$ !ears of age '. According to ndian )actories Act 'HA(# a child above 'G years and below '( years is an adolescent. A ,hild is a person who hasn0t completed 'G years. ?oung @erson is either a child or adolescent. &. According to 2ection <KG of .@.,# se.ual intercourse with one0s own wife# even with her consent# is rape if she was below 'G years (By a local amendment this age has been reduced to '< years for the state of *anipur! <. According to nternational $abor ,onference ('HA( session!# young persons between 'G-'K years shall not be employed in factories# mines# railways and ports for a period of at least '& consecutive hours. A. According to 2ection '< (&! (iv! of %he Iindu *arriage Act 'HGG# a wife may divorce her husband if her marriage (whether consummated or not! was solemni+ed before she attained the age of 'G years# and she has repudiated the marriage after attaining that age but before attaining the age of '( years. G. According to 2ection '/4 of %he ,riminal @rocedure ,ode# a police officer has power to require attendance of witnesses# but he can0t compel a male person below 'G years (or any woman! to attend at any place other than the place in which such male person (or woman! resides. Medicolegal importance of 1% !ears of age '. 7nder section <KG of the .@.,# se.ual intercourse with a woman even with her consent is rape# if she was below '/ years of age. &. According to the ndian law# a child under '/ years of age# who is serving a

sentence for some offence# can not be kept in a ;ail. Ie has to be confined in a ,hildren0s Iome. <. According to section </' of .@.,# whoever takes or entices any minor under '/ years of age if a male# (or under '( years of age if a female# or any person of unsound mind! out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such minor (or person of unsound mind!# without the consent of such guardian# is said to kidnap such minor (or persons! from lawful guardianship. A. According to 2ection && of 7nited @rovinces >.cise Act# a licensed vendor is not permitted to sell any spirit or into.icating drug to persons under '/ years of age. G. According to %he Bombay ,hildren Act 'HA(# a child means a boy or girl under '/ years. f such a child commits an offence# he becomes a youthful offender# and shall not be sentenced to death. /. 7nder the Bombay @revention of Iindu Bigamous *arriage Act 'HA/# a minor means any person who is below '/ years of age (7nder the ndian *a;ority Act '(KG# a minor is a person below '( years! K. According to >ngland 0s %attooing of *inors Act 'H/H# tattooing of persons under the age of '/ has been made illegal since 'H/H. (. According to 2ection </<-A of .@.,# kidnapping or maiming of a minor for the purpose of begging is an offence. f the person merely kidnaps# the sentence is '4 years and fine. f he maims# the sentence is life imprisonment and fine. )or the purposes of this section a minor is a male below the age of '/ years# and a female below '( years. %his is an interesting section# as the ages for minors are different for males and females.

H. According to 2ection &( aa ! of The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) "ct' #%42 of

ndia # a MchildM means a person who has not completed the age of si.teen years. ( http155socialwelfare.delhigovt.nic.in5immoraltraffact'.htm!

'4.
#%42of si.teen

According to 2ection &(cb! of The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) "ct' ndia # a MminorM means a person who has completed the age of years but has not completed the age of eighteen years.

(http155socialwelfare.delhigovt.nic.in5immoraltraffact'.htm! ''. 7nder the ,hildren and ?oung @ersons Act 'H<< E 'HG& of 78 # it is an offence for a person over '/ years to have a child under '& years in a room with an unguarded fire.

'&.

According to section '/ of Indian "rms

ules #%20# any person below

the age of si.teen years but not below the age of twelve years may be allowed to use a fire-arm for the purpose of training in the use of such firearm in the immediate presence# or under the direct supervision and guidance of an adult instructor or the licensee1

@rovided that no person below the age of si.teen years shall be allowed carry and firearm requiring a licence# in a public place# e.cept in the immediate presence and supervision of the person who is lawfully entitled to carry such firearm. (http155www.abhi;eetsingh.com5arms5india5laws5rules5rule6'G6&A.html!.

'<.

According to section H of the Indian "rms "ct #%4%# a person below '/

years of age can not keep any any firearm or ammunition in his possession. ( http155www.abhi;eetsingh.com5arms5india5laws5act5chapter6'6&.html !.

Fig 1) *ateral iew of the chest showing sternum and its pieces in a 1% !ear old male N)+) Clic, this photo -as well as all the su.se/uent photos0 to enlarge them Medicolegal importance of 1& !ears of age '. According to nternational $abor ,onference ('HA( session!# young persons between 'G-'K years shall not be employed in factories# mines# railways and ports for a period of at least '& consecutive hours. &. ndian *ines Act 'H&<1 -o person who hasn0t completed his 'Kth year shall be allowed to be present in any part of a mine which is below ground unless a

certificate of fitness is granted.

<. According to 2ection AA of The 3uvenile 3ustice (Care and Protection of

Children)' "ct 0&&&# a ;uvenile or child over seventeen years of age but less than eighteen years of age would stay in the after-care organi+ation till he attains the age of twenty years. (http155www.helplinelaw.com5bareact5inde..phpCdspD;uvenile-;ustice! Medicolegal importance of 1' !ears of age '. 7nder section G (iii! of Iindu *arriage Act 'HGG# the age for marriage for a girl is '( years. f a girl marries before this age# the punishment is prescribed in section '( (a! of the same act. marriage is not dissolved. &. According to section </' of .@.,# whoever takes or entices any minor under '( years of age if a female# (or under '/ years of age if a male# or any person of unsound mind! out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such minor (or person of unsound mind!# without the consent of such guardian# is said to kidnap such minor (or persons! from lawful guardianship. <. According to ndian *a;ority Act '(KG# a person attains ma;ority when he5she attains the age of '( years. A. According to 2ection A(a! of the The5indu 1inority and .uardianship "ct #%42# a person who is below '( years of age is a minor. G. According to 2ection (K of .@.,# a person under the age of '( years can not give valid consent whether e.press or implied to suffer any harm which may result from an act not intended or not known to cause death or grievous hurt (e.ample1 fencing# surgical operations by a doctor! /. According to section <//-A of .@.,# whoever procures any girl under the age of '( years for the purposes of illicit intercourse with another person# shall be punishable with imprisonment which may e.tend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine. K. According to section <K& of .@.,# whoever sells# lets to hire# or otherwise disposes of any person under the age of '( years for the purposes of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful or immoral purpose# shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may e.tend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine. (. According to section <K< of .@.,# whoever buys# hires# or otherwise obtains possession of any person under the age of '( years for the purposes of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful or t is simple imprisonment which may e.tend to 'G days# or fine which may e.tend to '444 Rs# or with both. %he

immoral purpose# shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may e.tend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine. H. According to ndian )actories Act 'HA(# MAdultM is a person who has completed his '(th year. A person less than '(# but more than 'G years of age is adolescent. '4. According to section <4G of .@.,# whoever abets the suicide of child below '( years# would be punishable with death# or imprisonment for life# and shall also be liable to fine. ''. 2ection <44 I.P.C. e.ception G1 ,ulpable homicide is not murder when the person who died was above '( years of age and he5she risked death with his own consent. '&. A child (7nder ,hildren0s Act 'H/4! is sent to ,hildren0s home on commission of an offence# but is not retained there beyond the age of '( years. '<. ,hildren and ?oung @erson0s Act 'H<< of >ngland 1 A person below '( years can0t be sentenced to death. 'A. According to 2ection </<-A of .@.,# kidnapping or maiming of a minor for the purpose of begging is an offence. f the person merely kidnaps# the sentence is '4 years and fine. f he maims# the sentence is life imprisonment and fine. )or the purposes of this section a minor is a female below '( years (or a male below the age of '/ years!. %his is an interesting section# as the ages for minors are different for males and females. 'G. %his is the age for voting in ndia and several countries.

'/.

According to 2ection & (k! of The 3uvenile 3ustice (Care and Protection eighteenth year of age.

of Children)' "ct 0&&&# a M;uvenileM or MchildM means a person who has not completed (http155www.helplinelaw.com5bareact5inde..phpCdspD;uvenile-;ustice! 'K. According to section < (A! (a! of the *edical %ermination of @regnancy Act 'HK'# if the pregnant woman has not attained the age of '( years# her pregnancy can not be terminated# e.cept with the consent in writing of her guardian. '(. According to 2ection '< (&! (iv! of %he Iindu *arriage Act 'HGG# a wife may divorce her husband if her marriage (whether consummated or not! was solemni+ed before she attained the age of 'G years# and she has repudiated the marriage after attaining that age but before attaining the age of '( years. 'H. According to 2ection & (f! of %he %ransplantation of Iuman Lrgans Act# 'HHA# a MdonorM means any person not less than '( years of age# who voluntarily authori+es the removal of any of his human organs for therapeutic purposes.

&4.
#%42of

According to 2ection &(ca! of The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) "ct' ndia # a Mma;orM means a person who has completed the age of

eighteen years. According to 2ection &(cb! of the same Act# a MminorM means a person who has completed the age of si.teen years but has not completed the age of eighteen years. (http155socialwelfare.delhigovt.nic.in5immoraltraffact'.htm!

Figure 2) Diagram showing the fusion of arious parts of sternum -clic, to enlarge0 Medicolegal importance of 1( !ears of age

'. 7nder the *aine law# a court order requiring the payment of child support (in
cases where payments are made by one parent to the other following disputes between them! remains in force as to each child until the order is altered by the court or until that child attains 'H years of age. (%he actual law is somewhat more comple. than this. @lease seehttp155;anus.state.me.us5$>J 252%A%7%>25'H-A5title'H-Asec'/G<.html fo r details.! Medicolegal importance of 20 !ears of age '. 2ection &H< I.P.C. if a person sells# lets to hire# distributes# e.hibits or circulates obscene ob;ects to any person under &4 years of age# then on first conviction# he would be sentenced to an imprisonment of < years and a fine of &444 Rs. Ln second conviction# the punishment would be K years and a fine of G444 Rs.

&. According to 2ection AA of The 3uvenile 3ustice (Care and Protection of

Children)' "ct 0&&&# a ;uvenile or child over seventeen years of age but less

than eighteen years of age would stay in the after-care organi+ation till he attains the age of twenty years. (http155www.helplinelaw.com5bareact5inde..phpCdspD;uvenile-;ustice! Medicolegal importance of 21 !ears of age '. 7nder section G (iii! of Iindu *arriage Act 'HGG# the age for marriage for a boy is &' years. f a boy marries before this age# the punishment is prescribed in section '( (a! of the same act. t is simple imprisonment which may e.tend to 'G days# or fine which may e.tend to '444 Rs# or with both. %he marriage is not dissolved. &. 7nder section <//-B of I.P.C.# whoever imports into ndia from any country outside ndia or from the 2tate of Nammu and 8ashmir any girl under the age of &' years with intent that she may be# or knowing it to be likely that she will be# forced or seduced to illicit intercourse with another person# shall be punishable with imprisonment which may e.tend to '4 years and shall also be liable to fine. <. "hen a minor is under the guardianship of the ,ourt of "ards# or is under a guardian appointed by the ,ourt# he is not deemed to attain ma;ority until he is &' years of age.

A. 7nder section '/ of Indian "rms ules #%20# an adult means a person who
has completed the age of twenty one years (http155www.abhi;eetsingh.com5arms5india5laws5rules5rule6'G6&A.html!.

Figure ") 1-ra! 2el is and femur in a two and a half !ear old male -Clic, to enlarge0) Medicolegal importance of 2$ !ears of age '. According to Article (A (b! of The Constitution of India # minimum age for contesting for the membership of @arliament is &G years. &. According to Article 'K< (b! of The Constitution of India# minimum age for contesting for the membership of any 2tate $egislative Assembly is &G years. <. %his is the ma.imum age for entry into some government services. A. According to @un;ab >.cise Act 'H'A# a person below this age can not buy and consume liquor. Medicolegal importance of "0 !ears of age '. According to Article (A (b! of The Constitution of India# this is the minimum age for election to the ,ouncil of 2tates (Ra;ya 2abha!. &. According to Article 'K< (b! of The Constitution of India# this is the minimum age for election to the 2tate $egislative ,ouncil. Medicolegal importance of "$ !ears of age '. According to Article G( ('! (b! of The Constitution of India # this is the minimum age for appointment as the @resident of ndia. &. According to Article // (<! (b! of The Constitution of India # this is the minimum age for appointment as the =ice-@resident of ndia. <. According to Article 'GK of The Constitution of India# this is the minimum age for appointment as the Jovernor of any 2tate. A. According to 2ection A (<! (i! of %he @re-natal Diagnostic %echniques (Regulation and @revention of *isuse! Act 'HHA# no pre-natal diagnostic technique shall be used or conducted unless the age of the woman is above <G years. Medicolegal importance of %0 !ears of age '. %his is age of retirement from Jovernment service (and Delhi 7niversity !

Figure #) 1-ra! pel is and femur in a fourteen and a half !ear old male -Clic, to enlarge0) Medicolegal importance of %$ !ears of age '. According to 2ection '4 (&! of the ,onsumer @rotection Act 'H(/# every member of the District )orum shall hold office for a term of five years or upto the age of /G years# whichever is earlier# and shall not be eligible for reappointment. District )orum is a kind of civil court which delivers ;udgments in cases of consumer grievances. 2imilarly the 2tate ,ommission and the -ational ,ommission (mentioned below! are also akin to civil courts which are higher in rank to District )orum. Medicolegal importance of %& !ears of age '. According to 2ection '/ (<! of the ,onsumer @rotection Act 'H(/# every

member of the 2tate ,ommission shall be below /K years of age. Medicolegal importance of &0 !ears of age '. According to 2ection &4 (<! of the ,onsumer @rotection Act 'H(/# every member of the -ational ,ommission shall be below K4 years of age. &. %his is the age prescribed by some 2tate Jovernments which qualifies a person to get pension from MLld Age @ension 2chemeM. 3stimation of age from 1-ra!s Age can usually be estimated in the living from the following four criteria ('!%eeth (&! Lssification of bones (<!2econdary se. characters (A!Jeneral development (in case of children!. n this paper we shall concentrate on the estimation of age from O-rays only. Age from 4ternum %his is usually a neglected bone even by forensic practitioners engaged in the determination of age. But it can give strikingly accurate ages. )igure ' is an e.ample. %his case was brought to the author for age estimation. A lateral O-ray of chest was advised. All the four pieces of sternum can be seen clearly. %he third and fourth piece have almost united# which allowed the author to opine on the age as around 'G years. %his was later found to be true from other evidences. )igure & shows the usual ages of fusion of other parts of this bone. Age from femur and hip .one %he case shown in figure < was a male# who was brought to the author for alleged sodomy on him. %he police wanted to know his age# as a tender age could lead to stricter punishment to the accused. f we look at the O-ray carefully# we see that the head of femur has appeared. %his meant that the age was above ' year. But the greater trochanter has not yet appeared which allowed us to say that he was below A years. %he actual age of the boy was found to be & and a half years from other evidences. %he case shown in figure A is also a male. Ie was brought as he had stolen some ;ewelry from a female# and he had applied for confinement in a ,hildren0s home. n this case# the tri-radiate cartilage can easily be seen which allowed us to say that

the person was above '< years and below 'G years of age. Iowever a very faint shadow of lesser trochanter could also be seen. $esser trochanter appears at around the age of 'A years. Lpinion given was that the child was between 'A-'G years.

Figure $) *ateral 1-ra! foot in a eight and a half !ear old male -Clic, to enlarge0) Age from foot bones %he case shown in figure G is very interesting# and include this case ;ust to show

that even the neglected foot bones can sometimes be very useful in estimation of age. %his is the O-ray of an eight and a half year old child. %he 2econdary center in the calcaneum has appeared (P/ years!# but has not united (Q'A years!. By e.amination of ;ust this bone# we can limit our gap to ( years. Lf course e.amination of other bones was also required to pin-point the age# but this served as an important initial step. 5eferences %he reader is well advised to visit the following sites for further information on estimation of age in the living

'. David $ucy1 Iuman age estimation from 2keletal and dental evidence &.
(Abstract of @h.D. Dissertation! Age reconstruction

<. Age determination from .-ray

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