Proceedings of the
Workshop on Medico-Legal aspects of Narco-Analysis and Brain mapping
18th - 20th January 2017
Inauguration and the start
The Narcoanalysis and Brain mapping workshop was held at Yenepoya University from 18th to 20th January, 2017. The workshop was attended by eminent experts in field psychiatry, crime and law, public health experts, forensic scientists, medical doctors and allied health workers, students of varied background, civil society representatives and human rights activists.
The three day workshop on Medico legal aspects of Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping jointly organized by Yenepoya University and S.D.M Law College Mangaluru in association with Yenepoya Narcotics Educational Foundation of India (YNEFI), Mangaluru was inaugurated on 18th January 2017 at auditorium of Yenepoya Medical College Hospital.
The Narcoanalysis and Brain mapping workshop was held at Yenepoya University from 18th to 20th January, 2017. The workshop was attended by eminent experts in field psychiatry, crime and law, public health experts, forensic scientists, medical doctors and allied health workers, students of varied background, civil society representatives and human rights activists.
The three day workshop on Medico legal aspects of Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping jointly organized by Yenepoya University and S.D.M Law College Mangaluru in association with Yenepoya Narcotics Educational Foundation of India (YNEFI), Mangaluru was inaugurated on 18th January 2017 at auditorium of Yenepoya Medical College Hospital.
Shri. M Chandrashekar, IPS, Police Commissioner, Mangaluru city was the chief guest. In his speech he said, “ Narco analysis and brain mapping has become an important investigative tool for law enforcement agencies and institutions. We are in an era where we expect instant results. This has contributed to the development of advanced techniques to enable the law enforcement agencies to uncover the truth from the accused. Every person is endowed with fundamental rights and these rights are to be respected. There are blocks in the way of implementation of advanced investigative tests like narco analysis and brain mapping. But Narco analysis is futuristic in nature and standardization procedure is needed for its wider application in the field of jurisprudence. Narco analysis protects human rights and ensures to protect the innocent. Being its nature and application narco analysis technique will not harm the person who is alleged to be found guilty. He further added that if these kind of techniques reduces the burden of law enforcement authorities, which are humane in nature, protect human rights, reduces pain of both the accused and the investigating personnel then such techniques or methods will definitely find place in law enforcement departments.”
Visit by Hon'ble Chancellor - Yenepoya University, Mr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi
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Prof. James T Antony, Former Principal, Thrissur and Calicut Medical College spoke about how truth serums started in 1910 and how it was used as twilight sleep in pregnant ladies. He also criticised narco-analysis for its nature of getting false positive results and lack of concrete public health evidence that exist currently. Mr. S. Rajkumar IRS, Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, Karnataka, Mr. K.R Suresh DIG of Coast Guard and Mrs. Susamma Thomas, Vice Principal of S.D.M Law College also spoke on occasion.
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Dr. G. Shree Kumar Menon, Registrar of Yenepoya University and CEO of* YNEFI welcomed, Dr. M Vijayakumar, Vice- Chancellor of Yenepoya University presided over the function, and Dr. V.V Mohanchandran, Professor of Psychiatry, Yenepoya Medical College proposed a vote of thanks.
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Technical Sessions
Day 1 – 18th January, 2017.
Introduction to Narco-analysis and brain-mapping
Dr. Rohan Mendonsa, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry introduced the concepts of narco-analysis and how its emergence had taken place in India and around the world. He also spoke about principles of narco-analysis, finger-printing and how narco-analysis and brain-mapping is used to guide different crimes and reports.
Role of Anesthesia in Narco-analysis
Dr. S. Padmanabha, Professor and Head, Department of Anesthesia, Yenepoya Medical College highlighted the role of anaesthesiologists in patient care outside the operation theatres, pre-test interviews and usage of drugs during narco-analysis. The actions of sodium pentathol as a drug used in narco-analysis was discussed in detail.
Experiential account of narco-analysis
Dr. Mohan Chandran, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yenepoya Medical College discussed different case vignettes on how narco-analysis was used to guide further course of action in diverse circumstances.
Investigative tool or glorified torture
Dr. Mahabalesh Shetty, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, discussed the deception detection test which is used to extract the hidden information from the mind. He touched upon forensic activism as a method for better crime management. A few reference cases were also discussed.
Truth Serum – Its Development
Dr. Mallikarjuna A V, Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Yenepoya Medical College spoke on how truth serum came across as a term. He quoted different instances of Dr. House way back in 1930 and also quoted Journalist Michael Mosley’s self experiment.
Day 1 – 18th January, 2017.
Introduction to Narco-analysis and brain-mapping
Dr. Rohan Mendonsa, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry introduced the concepts of narco-analysis and how its emergence had taken place in India and around the world. He also spoke about principles of narco-analysis, finger-printing and how narco-analysis and brain-mapping is used to guide different crimes and reports.
Role of Anesthesia in Narco-analysis
Dr. S. Padmanabha, Professor and Head, Department of Anesthesia, Yenepoya Medical College highlighted the role of anaesthesiologists in patient care outside the operation theatres, pre-test interviews and usage of drugs during narco-analysis. The actions of sodium pentathol as a drug used in narco-analysis was discussed in detail.
Experiential account of narco-analysis
Dr. Mohan Chandran, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yenepoya Medical College discussed different case vignettes on how narco-analysis was used to guide further course of action in diverse circumstances.
Investigative tool or glorified torture
Dr. Mahabalesh Shetty, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, discussed the deception detection test which is used to extract the hidden information from the mind. He touched upon forensic activism as a method for better crime management. A few reference cases were also discussed.
Truth Serum – Its Development
Dr. Mallikarjuna A V, Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Yenepoya Medical College spoke on how truth serum came across as a term. He quoted different instances of Dr. House way back in 1930 and also quoted Journalist Michael Mosley’s self experiment.
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Day 2 – 19th January, 2017.
Hypnosis: Process and Products
Dr. Dinesh, Professor,Department of Psychology, Manipal University talked about how hypnosis as a concept lacks robust research. He discussed components of hypnosis, functionality and the way in which it is conducted. Quoting Spiegel, he said that there is no evidence to suggest that hypnosis is dangerous as well.
Pharmacology of truth serum agents
Dr. Akshay Desai, Medical Advisor, Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Mumbai highlighted different facts of how truth serum agents have gathered pace over the course of the years and what the future holds as well.
Narcoanalysis ethics and Legal Aspects – Clinical Perspectives
Dr. Suresh Bada Math, Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore began his session with the rights and duties of individuals and the state. He spoke about the right to remain silent which is guaranteed by the Constitution and re-enforced by the Supreme Court as well. He also spoke about brain finger printing and polygraph techniques and their legal implications.
Investigative techniques in forensic pathology and eye witness memory
Dr. Devvarta Kumar, Additional Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, spoke on profiling techniques, crime scene detection from diverse perspective, forensic interviewing with multiple case scenarios.
Interesting cases of forensic psychiatry
Dr. Anil Kakunje, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yenepoya Medical College, discussed the interesting case studies of forensic psychiatry which would shed a new domain of thinking among the delegates.
Hypnosis: Process and Products
Dr. Dinesh, Professor,Department of Psychology, Manipal University talked about how hypnosis as a concept lacks robust research. He discussed components of hypnosis, functionality and the way in which it is conducted. Quoting Spiegel, he said that there is no evidence to suggest that hypnosis is dangerous as well.
Pharmacology of truth serum agents
Dr. Akshay Desai, Medical Advisor, Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Mumbai highlighted different facts of how truth serum agents have gathered pace over the course of the years and what the future holds as well.
Narcoanalysis ethics and Legal Aspects – Clinical Perspectives
Dr. Suresh Bada Math, Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore began his session with the rights and duties of individuals and the state. He spoke about the right to remain silent which is guaranteed by the Constitution and re-enforced by the Supreme Court as well. He also spoke about brain finger printing and polygraph techniques and their legal implications.
Investigative techniques in forensic pathology and eye witness memory
Dr. Devvarta Kumar, Additional Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, spoke on profiling techniques, crime scene detection from diverse perspective, forensic interviewing with multiple case scenarios.
Interesting cases of forensic psychiatry
Dr. Anil Kakunje, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yenepoya Medical College, discussed the interesting case studies of forensic psychiatry which would shed a new domain of thinking among the delegates.
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Day 3 – 20th January, 2017.
Narco-analysis and constitution of India
Dr. P. D. Sebastain, Professor Emeritus, SDM Law College, Mangaluru informed the learned audience on how courts don’t admit narco-analysis because it is not without any consequence and the robustness of the method is lacking. Enforcing that individual right must be a priority, he highlighted that science must define the percentage of error these tests will bring about. He also mentioned about a classic reference case regarding Selvi Vs State of Karnataka where the court ruled that narco-analysis is unscientific.
Legal procedures for subjecting anybody to narco-analysis test
Prof. Maheshchandra, Associate Profesor, SDM Law College, Mangaluru discussed in depth the legal procedures for subjecting anyone to narco-analysis. He enforced the fact that the methods for investigation required a debate and unscientific narco techniques cannot be used to conduct investigation. He also said that such techniques must be should when they become self-incriminatory in nature.
Human rights philosophy and narco-analysis
Ms. Gayathri P G, Assistant Commissioner, Service Tax II Commissionerate, Bengaluru spoke about the different human rights philosophies and its safeguards in relation to narco-analysis. The individual rights, benefit theories of the usage of the same and how defendants of human rights perceive the principles in depth.
How to preserve the sanctity of doctor-patient relationship
Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag, President, Human rights protection foundation, Udupi discussed the different rights of the patient and the qualities of a good doctor. He also exposed the rationale of ayurveda vs modern medicine. He discussed the possibilities of treating without informed consent and how Supreme court has come out with conflicting judgements in such matters. He also highlighted different cases and scenarios and how human rights intervention was necessary to up-lift and fix ailing systems.
Paper presentation was carried out as well by Mrs. Reshma, Assistant Professor, SDM Law College on Self Incrimination vis-à-vis narco-analysis and Mrs Suma Suresh, Assistant Professor, SDM Law College presented a paper on Narco-analysis and human rights.
Narco-analysis and constitution of India
Dr. P. D. Sebastain, Professor Emeritus, SDM Law College, Mangaluru informed the learned audience on how courts don’t admit narco-analysis because it is not without any consequence and the robustness of the method is lacking. Enforcing that individual right must be a priority, he highlighted that science must define the percentage of error these tests will bring about. He also mentioned about a classic reference case regarding Selvi Vs State of Karnataka where the court ruled that narco-analysis is unscientific.
Legal procedures for subjecting anybody to narco-analysis test
Prof. Maheshchandra, Associate Profesor, SDM Law College, Mangaluru discussed in depth the legal procedures for subjecting anyone to narco-analysis. He enforced the fact that the methods for investigation required a debate and unscientific narco techniques cannot be used to conduct investigation. He also said that such techniques must be should when they become self-incriminatory in nature.
Human rights philosophy and narco-analysis
Ms. Gayathri P G, Assistant Commissioner, Service Tax II Commissionerate, Bengaluru spoke about the different human rights philosophies and its safeguards in relation to narco-analysis. The individual rights, benefit theories of the usage of the same and how defendants of human rights perceive the principles in depth.
How to preserve the sanctity of doctor-patient relationship
Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag, President, Human rights protection foundation, Udupi discussed the different rights of the patient and the qualities of a good doctor. He also exposed the rationale of ayurveda vs modern medicine. He discussed the possibilities of treating without informed consent and how Supreme court has come out with conflicting judgements in such matters. He also highlighted different cases and scenarios and how human rights intervention was necessary to up-lift and fix ailing systems.
Paper presentation was carried out as well by Mrs. Reshma, Assistant Professor, SDM Law College on Self Incrimination vis-à-vis narco-analysis and Mrs Suma Suresh, Assistant Professor, SDM Law College presented a paper on Narco-analysis and human rights.
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Valedictory
The chief guest of the valedictory function was Mr. Harishekaran, IPS, Inspector General- Western Range who highlighted the different responsibilities the police have in the entire process of the law and how citizens with different cultures perceived the same. he also assured complete co-operation from his department with regard to fighting the drug menace in the region. Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag was the guest of honor. Dr. Akther Husain, Secretary, Islamic Education Society, presided over the function. Dr. G. Shreekumar Menon, Registrar, Yenepoya University, Mrs. Sushamma Thomas, Vice Principal, SDM Law College, was also present.
The chief guest of the valedictory function was Mr. Harishekaran, IPS, Inspector General- Western Range who highlighted the different responsibilities the police have in the entire process of the law and how citizens with different cultures perceived the same. he also assured complete co-operation from his department with regard to fighting the drug menace in the region. Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag was the guest of honor. Dr. Akther Husain, Secretary, Islamic Education Society, presided over the function. Dr. G. Shreekumar Menon, Registrar, Yenepoya University, Mrs. Sushamma Thomas, Vice Principal, SDM Law College, was also present.
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Proceedings prepared by
Dr. Edmond Fernandes, MBBS, PGD-PHSM
Department of Community Medicine,
Yenepoya Medical College,
Yenepoya University.
Dr. Edmond Fernandes, MBBS, PGD-PHSM
Department of Community Medicine,
Yenepoya Medical College,
Yenepoya University.