The 6th Forensic Update was inaugurated on Saturday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal. Resource persons, invited from eminent institutions like AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Raipur, BSMC Bankura, and PGIMER Chandigarh from the states and union territories of Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh to talk about the recent trends of poisoning in the respective states and the country and the novel opportunities for research and excellence in the fields of clinical, environmental, analytical and forensic toxicology - the recent advances in the field during various sessions organized over 2 days by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, enlightened more than 60 delegates.
Prof. (Dr.) Arneet Arora, the organizing chairperson and Prof. (Dr.) Jayanthi Yadav, the organizing secretary of Forensic Update - VI and distinguished members of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS Bhopal, have been diligently coordinating this 'no-frills' event for six years, with a strong focus on the assorted and refined academic excellence. This year's focus was on the field of toxicology and the event was held on 8-9 September 2023.
The event's inauguration was graced by the esteemed presence of Prof. (Dr.) Debasis Biswas, who serves as the Dean of Research and Head of Microbiology, as well as Prof. (Dr.) Balakrishnan S, the Dean of Student Welfare and Head of Pharmacology, both at AIIMS Bhopal. Prof. (Dr.) Debasis Biswas expressed his delight at the convivial and non-toxic atmosphere among the gathering of toxicologists and their subject matter.
He commended the pivotal role the zeal of the two departments has played in fostering the growth of post-mortem microbiology at AIIMS Bhopal, emphasizing the importance of rigorous research that extends beyond poisoning, impacting clinical medicine. He also echoed the sentiment that everything can be considered poison, with the only distinction being the dosage, highlighting that this gathering has consistently remained free from toxicity over the six-year journey of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS Bhopal.
The organizing chairperson and secretary, along with Additional Professor Dr. Raghvendra Kumar Vidua who serves as in charge of the Poison Information Centre, Associate Professor Dr. Atul S Keche who serves as the in-charge of Forensic Toxicology Lab, and Assistant Professor Dr. Niranjan Sahoo who serves as the in-charge of Clinical Forensic Medicine, all from the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at AIIMS, Bhopal welcomed the guest speakers - Prof. (Dr.) Millo Tabin, In charge of Toxicology in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at AIIMS, Delhi; Prof. (Dr.) Krishnadutt H. Chavali, Head of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at AIIMS, Raipur; Prof. (Dr.) Somnath Das, Head of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Bankura Sammilani Medical College in Bankura, West Bengal; Prof. (Dr.) Yogender Bansal, Head of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology and Mr. Sunil Dutt Attrey, Senior Toxicologist, both at the Department of Forensic Medicine at PGIMER.