Order flouted: Autopsies done sans experts
› Over the past month, we sent two bodies to GMC in Amritsar for postmortem. However, authorities there refused to do the job, saying that they had no orders to deploy forensic teams for postmortems.
DR SAMSHER SINGH, civil surgeon Tarn Taran
TARN TARAN: A well-meaning order of Punjab health department director Dr Rajiv Bhalla to all civil surgeons in the state that only forensic teams will conduct post-mortems in murder and suicide cases is not being followed in the district. The reason: the two civil hospitals — at Tarn Taran and Patti — have no forensic experts.
Interestingly, Dr Bhalla had written to the civil surgeons on October 3 — almost two months ago — after the Centre issued an order in this regard.
This was after two post-mortem reports, with different conclusions, were found to be doing the rounds in a single case.
THE ORDER
Dr Bhalla’s the order, a copy of which is with HT, reads, “There is a need to ensure that in murder/suicide cases, the post-mortem should be conducted by specialised forensic teams at district/state level hospitals as the finding of two post-mortems reports (PMRS) of a case were found different.”
The order was widely seen as a public-friendly move as the family members of the victims in suicide or murder cases could expect to get speedy justice with the scientifically done postmortem.
The order went on to add, “The police should also be sensitised in cases such as these so that speedy action can be taken against the accused.”
Civil surgeon-cum-deputy director of health department, Dr Samsher Singh, said, “Our director had issued the order and soon after we started implementing the same. Over the past month, we sent two bodies — a murder and a suicide — to Government Medical College Amritsar for post-mortem from a forensic team.however, the authorities there refused to do the job, saying that had no orders to deploy forensic team for post-mortems.”
He added, “Finally, we conducted the post-mortem of these bodies at Tarn Taran civil hospital’s mortuary house.”
On why was the Amritsar hospital not complying with the order, the civil surgeon said, “The health department and the medical colleges and hospitals come under different directors. Medical colleges and hospitals have not received the relevant directions. Hence, we have these difficulties.”
Activist Harikrishan Arora said, “The order is good for the public. Owing to government apathy towards the state health system, people will have to bear the burden and approach government medical colleges for conducting post-mortem.”
“The government should immediately move to appoint forensic experts in all civil hospitals of the state,” he added.
Dr Tejbir Singh, principal, Government Medical College, Amritsar, said, “I am not aware of the order of the director, but will sort out the matter after speaking to civil surgeon.”