Dr. Ambika Prasad

Dr. Ambika
Prasad
Patra
Department: 
Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Designation: 
Addl. Professor & Ex-HoD
Contact Number: 
2275535
Medical Registration number: 
No:14940/2002 Odisha Medical Council
Academic Qualifications: 

• MBBS
• MD (Forensic Medicine and Toxicology)
• MBA (Hospital Administration)
• FRCP (London, UK)

About :
Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra is a distinguished Forensic Medicine & Toxicology specialist at JIPMER, Puducherry. As Head of Department, he has significantly contributed to advancing the field of forensic science in academic, clinical, and medico-legal domains. His expertise encompasses clinical forensic medicine, toxicology, forensic pathology & radiology, medico-legal ethics, forensic outreach programs, and research-driven innovation. In the autonomous JIPMER (2008), until 2010 there were only two forensic physicians, i.e. Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra and Dr. Kusa Kumar Shaha working in the department. Over time, the department has grown into a dynamic team of five faculty members, with 3 senior and 12 postgraduate junior residents actively engaged in medico-legal education, autopsy practice, and toxicology research. Known for his interdisciplinary collaborations and leadership, Dr. Patra has helped shape forensic medical education for undergraduates and postgraduates while providing vital services to law enforcement, judiciary, and public health systems. He has published extensively in indexed journals, authored and edited textbooks, mentored postdoctoral and postgraduate scholars, and contributed significantly to forensic research and training. He is recognized as an expert consultant for the judiciary, police, and investigative agencies across India.

Special Area of Interest: 
Medical Ethics , Forensic Toxicology ,Clinical Forensic Medicine ,Humanitarian Forensics ,Legal Medicine ,Traffic Medicine ,Forensic Psychiatry ,Forensic Pathology ,Hospital Administration.
Publication: 

Major Awards, Honours & Recognitions

  • Felicitated by the Hon'ble Vice-chancellor of Pondicherry University (2024), Prof. K. Tharanikkarasu and Prof. Venkata Rao, Dean of Students Welfare Department of Pondicherry University (government of India) for periodic Awareness Programs on Substance Abuse among University Students.
  • Felicitated as best Editor by the Indian Society of Toxicology (2016) for the contributions to the field of Indian toxicology as the Editor of the Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology (2015-2020), the official publication of Indian Society of Toxicology (Reg. 2005).
  • Felicitated as the Guest of Honor by the, Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, Directorate of Distance Education, Pondicherry University, on the eve of DDE Alumni Meet – 2024 in February 2024 at the Convention-Cum-Cultural Centre of Pondicherry University.
  • Received the ‘Sentinel of Science’ Award (2016) for being among the ‘Top 10 reviewers in Medicine’ by Publons Academy (Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science), for peer review contributed to the biomedical journals.
  • Selected as a Certified Mentor for the Practical Peer Review Training Course offered by the Publons Academy, Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science meant for the peer-reviewers affiliated with the Publons Academy (2021).
  • Received a certificate of distinction (2021) as ‘Best Mentor of the Year’, rated by peer-reviewers of the Publons Academy, Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science for his mentorship contributions to the peer reviewers affiliated to the Publons academy.
  • The project of Dr. Ambika Prasad Patra and Dr. Neithiya, Junior Resident and CoGuides Dr. Kusa Kumar Shaha, Dr. Harichandrakumar Awarded First Prize with Cash @ ₹ 5 Lakhs by National Forensic Science University, Govt. of India at FORENSIC HACKATHON 2023.
  • First Prize for the paper ‘Unusual Fatal Case of Oriental Rat-snake Bite with Pre-existing Cerebro-vascular Malformation’ at the 5th JIPMER Scientific Society (JSS) annual event, held on 21st November 2019.
  • Received the Second prize (senior Faculty category) Presented a paper titled “The Menace of Statutory Rape in India and Implementation of Gillick’s Competence Test: A promising solution” in the ‘PAFMATCON 2025, Annual National Conference of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology organized by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 21, 22 March 2025.
  • Best Poster Prize (First Prize - Faculty Category) for ‘Fatal Haemorrhage from Arteriovenous Malformation of Brain Following Minor Trauma: A Case Report’ at the 25th Annual Karnataka Medico-legal Society Conference 2017, Department of Forensic Medicine, BMCRI, Bangalore, 1-3 December 2017.
  • Best Paper Award (First Prize - Faculty Category) for ‘Venom Induced Raynaud's Phenomenon: A Case Review’ at TOXOCON-12, Indian Society of Toxicology, Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, 6-7 April 2018.
  • Best Paper Award [Jipmer Golden Jubilee (GJ-Straus) 2019-20] at the 5th JIPME Research Day for the project ‘Institute-based Cross-sectional Study to Estimate Stature Using Anthropometric Parameters of Lower Limbs of Fatal Cases from South Indian Population’ on 10th January 2020.
  • Best Paper Prize for the presentation titled ‘Medical Negligence - Current Scenario in India’ at the Annual Conference of the Scientific Society of the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, on 8th March 2022.
  • Best Paper Prize for the scientific presentation ‘Ethical and Legal Challenges if Nanotechnology Approached to Fight Against COVID-19’ at a symposium organized by the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 27-29 January 2022.

Major Academic Achievements

  • Teaching:
    • Nominated as NMCN Instructor (National Medical College Network, Govt. of India).
    • Approved PhD Guide at JIPMER, Puducherry and Co-guide for the Sa
  • Patents:
    • An Automated System and Method for Real-Time Determination of Death Interval – Indian Patent Office registration (No. 202341075404, 2025)
  • Copyrights:
    • Death Time Calculator (DTC, Version 1.0) – Registered with Copyright Office of India (No. XIV/5178/2025-CO/SW/181938).
  • Textbooks & Monographs:
  • Editor and author for the textbook titled “Medical Jurisprudence & Clinical Forensic Medicine”. Published by Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, London, UK. ISBN-13: 978-0367688080. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003139126
  • Author for the textbook titled “Thanatochemistry of Protected Body Fluids: A Promising Tool for Death Investigators.” Published by Eliva Press, Chișinău, Moldova, Europe. ISBN-10: 1636487610 | ISBN-13: 978-1636487618. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13622527
  • Contributed chapter on Modern Autopsy Techniques and Safe Morgue Practices – Chapter in Recent Advances for the textbook Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Vol. 4 edited by Gautam Biswas
  • Research Grants & Publications:
    • Extramural ICMR Grant: ₹6.78 Lakhs (with Dr. K.K. Shaha).
    • Intramural JIPMER Grants: ~₹2 Lakhs.
    • 88+ indexed publications across forensic medicine, toxicology, and medicolegal research.
  • Research Guide: Guided 35 projects (MD, MS, PhD, MBBS-ICMR-STS)
  • Publications & Presentations:
    • Paper Publications: 88
    • Paper Presentations: 103 (including 75 plenary/invited talks and 28 award papers)
    • Workshops/CME/Training Sessions: 75
    • Reviewer & Peer Recognition:
      • Peer reviewed for 170+ international journals
      • Mentor for peer reviewers with Web of Science/Publons Academy
  • Key Research Areas:
  • Nomogram based postmortem interval estimation and thanatochemistry
  • Postmortem Interval Estimation – Biochemical and thermometric markers.
  • Traffic Medicine and Forensic Radiology based studies.
  • Editorial Roles:
    • Editor, Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology, the official publication of Indian Society of Toxicology (2015–2020).
    • Guest Editor, Cureus Journal of Medical Science (Springer Nature).
    • Guest Editor, Clinical Medicine Insights: Case Reports (SAGE).
    • Academic Editor, Archives of Clinical Toxicology
  • Editorial Board Member/Reviewer for:
  • Human and Experimental Toxicology (SAGE, UK)
  • Journal of Forensic & Legal Medicine (Elsevier)
  • Forensic Science International
  • Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine
  • Journal of Legal Medicine
  • Journal of Forensic Research
  • Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International
  • National Medical Journal of India
  • Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal
  • Indian Journal of Forensic & Community Medicine
  • Reviewer for Taylor & Francis Group Ltd., CRC Press (Toxicology & Forensic Medicine textbooks)

Major Conferences, CME & Workshops (Organized by Dept. at JIPMER)

  • General Secretary, TOXOCON-8 (2014) – 8th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Toxicology.
  • Joint Secretary, Forensic Medicon 2018 (IAFM-2018) – 39th Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine.
  • Editor, Conference proceedings, SIMLA-2012 – 9th Annual Conference of South India Medico-legal Association.
  • Resource faculty & speaker, Forensic Update on Autopsy & Infection (2017).
  • Resource faculty and speaker, CME on Management of Sexual Offence Cases (2016–17).

Collaborative Initiatives & Outreach Programs

  1. Forensic Nursing Orientation (2025): Periodic training of BSc Nursing and staff nurses with College of Nursing, JIPMER.
  2. Substance Abuse Awareness (2024): Programs for university students with Pondicherry University.
  3. Clinical Forensic Medicine Orientation (2024): Joint program with Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, JIPMER.
  4. Forensic Ballistics Program (2024–): Training PG residents in collaboration with Puducherry Armed Police Armory.
  5. Plant Toxicology Workshop (2024–): Hands-on toxic plant identification with JIPMER Horticulture Department.
  6. Sexual Assault & Forensic Case Orientation (2023–): For Puducherry Police Investigating Officers.
  7. Forensic Odontology Training (2023–): Residential program with Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences.

Contact Information

  • Contact Number: +91413-2275535
  • Medical Registration: No. 14940/2002, Odisha Medical Council

ORCID | ResearchGate | Facebook

Positions Held: 

Administrative Experience & Positions Held

  • Expert to Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB), National Medical Commission (NMC)
  • Deputy Medical Superintendent
  • Nominated Legal Medicine Expert for:
    • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Cochin, Kerala
    • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chennai
    • Madras High Court (Madurai Bench)
    • Sessions & JM Courts of Villupuram, Cuddalore & Puducherry
  • Deputy Warden (Osler Hostel), Anti-Ragging Committee Member.
  • Subject Expert, Forensic Nursing, National Forensic Sciences University (Gandhinagar).
  • Deputy Controller of Exams, JIPMER (2019-2020)
  • Editor, Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology (2015–2020)
  • Resource Faculty, Department of Medical Education and Emergency Medicine & Trauma
  • Quality Implementation and Monitoring Officer (QIMO), NABH Accreditation representative
  • Judge, JIPMER Research Day

Scientific Society Memberships

  • Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK
  • Affiliate, Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine, London, UK
  • Member, International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM), Lausanne, Switzerland
  • General Secretary, Indian Society of Toxicology (since 2015)
  • Member, Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine
  • Member & Office-bearer, Medico-legal Association of Pondicherry (MLAP)
  • Executive Member, South India Medico-legal Association (Puducherry)
Country: 
India