The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run KEM Hospital at Parel is gearing up to launch the city’s first official 24×7 post mortem centre. The centre, which is in the midst of a facelift that includes better lighting to conduct autopsies at night, will be functional 24×7 from April 1.
Amidst the ongoing Pandemic with most of the Covid-related cases only requiring certification, KEM Hospital’s forensic department felt the need to have the centre open round-the-clock.
Accordingly, the centre will expedite body handover of non-sensitive and non-medico legal cases by four-six hours as against the present 12 to 24 hours, reported Hindustan Times.
Dr Ravindra Deokar, head (in-charge) of the forensic department, KEM hospital, said “There are two types of medico-legal cases coming for post mortem. In that, 30% are sensitive cases that include alleged murder or medical negligence. The remaining are simple cases generally involving road traffic accident cases, long hospitalisation cases, burn cases. Post mortem of such cases will be done beyond 6 pm once the centre starts 24×7.” He further added that there was a dire need for a 24×7 post mortem centre as it will facilitate early handover of the bodies, reduce the harassment of the grieving relatives as well as reduce the infection.
At present Sion, BYL Nair, RN Cooper, KEM, Bhagwati, Rajawadi, Shatabdi, St George, GT and JJ hospitals house post mortem centres that are operational only from 9 am to 6 pm, all days of the week. Several post mortem centres have been performing night post mortem for special cases, however, this will be the first official 24×7 post mortem centre that will have a dedicated staff working in three shifts of 8 hours.