Duties of medical practitioner while Treating Poisoning Cases

First and most important duty is to resuscitate the patient.

In suicidal or accidental poisoning, doctor (in private set up) is not bound to inform police.

In case of death, do not issue death certificate. Police have to be informed.

Doctors in Govt. Hospitals are to report every cases of poisoning to police

All cases of definite/suspected homicidal poisoning must be informed to police. sec. 39 (CrPC)

Collect and preserve all materials like vomitus, faeces, stomach washing contaminated food etc and send to State Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. (Deliberate omission will lead to sanction under 201 IPC)

In conscious patient, who is dying, arrange for dying declaration.

Notify all cases of poisoning from public eatery to public health authority

Maintain written records in all cases of poisoning.