Table 2.

Common mistakes that are committed in the emergency department from the medico-legal view point

Inaccurate description of a wound	Failure to correlate circumstances of a case with clinical findings, before venturing to record findings resulting in incorrect description of wounds in general and firearm wounds in particular
Ignoring stains and tears in clothing. Failure to preserve clothing where required	Ignorance leading to non-recognition of signs of physical abuse of children, elderly, intimate partner or spouses
Misinterpretation of physical injuries like describing an incised wound as a laceration, or firearm entry wound as a laceration or an exit wound	Destruction of gross and trace evidences in the course of patient care