Mourners complain of butchery sounds during post-morterms
MBABANE – Grief and trauma. This best describes the feelings relatives go through during post-mortems, chiefly in public health institutions.
For many people in the Kingdom of Eswatini, there is nothing as traumatic as hearing the sound of power blades cutting through the flesh or bones of their deceased relative. This is what happens in government mortuaries in the country. A post-mortem, also known as an autopsy, which is often recommended by the police or relatives, aims to determine the true cause of death, even when it may seem apparent from the outside.
These examinations can uncover hidden factors, such as strangulation or poisoning, which may not be immediately evident to grieving family members who believe their loved ones passed away peacefully. While post-mortems serve an important role in investigative purposes, not all relatives have the emotional strength to witness the procedure. In Eswatini, post-mortems are typically conducted at selected hospitals by pathologists hired by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). The findings from these examinations can be used as crucial evidence in murder cases.
INSULATION
Recently, mourners have raised concerns about the lack of proper sound insulation in the mortuaries where post-mortems are performed. The sound of tools cutting through flesh and bones can be distressing for family and friends present during the procedure.
Pathologists use specialised tools, some of which are powered and emit sounds similar to those heard in a butcher, when meat is being sliced.
*Jabha, who recently experienced the loss of a relative, expressed his dissatisfaction with how the post-mortem was conducted at the Mbabane Government Hospital. This hospital is a common location for post-mortems in the country, including those done in areas like Pigg’s Peak. Although Jabha personally opposed to the post-mortem, his relatives insisted on it. Uncomfortable with witnessing the procedure, Jabha chose to remain outside the post-mortem room with other mourners. Despite doing so, he said he could hear the sounds of the blades cutting through his grandmother’s body and it sounded like she was in a butchery. “It was as if they were killing her again,” he said.
SURPRISE
To his surprise and shock, Jabha said he could hear the sound of power blades cutting through the tissue of his deceased relative while the autopsy was underway. His experience mirrors that of other mourners who have also voiced their concerns to reporters of the Times of Eswatini. They also likened the sound to that of a butchery, further emphasising the distress caused by the lack of soundproofing in the mortuaries. The mourners complained that such outcry highlighted a pressing need to address the issue and improve the conditions where post-mortems were conducted.
*Jackie, who also recently lost a relative, said constructing mortuaries with proper sound insulation would prevent families from being subjected to the traumatic experience of hearing the tools used during the procedure.
Implementing these improvements, she said, authorities could ensure that the grieving process was not further burdened by unnecessary distress. Jackie said efforts should be made to create a more compassionate and respectful environment for grieving families, while still upholding the importance of post-mortems in determining the truth behind suspicious deaths.
She said the Ministry of Health should consider the emotional impact of these procedures, by taking steps to alleviate the trauma experienced by mourners.
*not real names