Post-mortems at KMC get tougher

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As the mortuary at the government hospital in Royapettah is getting a facelift after several years, all the bodies that come for post-mortem are being sent to Kilpauk medical college hospital for autopsy.

Though the process was planned ahead, doctors and policemen at the outpost in both hospitals are finding it difficult to adjust to the new arrangement.

The air-conditioning at the Royapettah government hospital (RGH) is several decades old and developed problems over the past few months. With the frequent power cuts in the city and lack of proper air-conditioning, the hospital staff were unable to conduct autopsies in a proper manner.

Following the health department’s decision to improve facilities in the morgues in all government hospitals in the state and provide proper air-conditioning, renovation works began at RGH a week ago.

All the autopsies that were to be conducted at RGH are being done at Kilpauk medical college hospital for the past one-week. “Though there are no extra procedures or paper work to be done, we are expected to keep an eye on the crowd that hovers near the morgue and make sure no untoward incidents take place.

It is adding pressure to our already cramped schedule,” said a policeman at the outpost in Kilpauk medical college hospital.

Meanwhile, the doctors at RGH make trips to Kilpauk to do the post-mortem.

When contacted, Dr Gunasekaran, medical superintendent of RGH, said, “The whole arrangement was made clear to everyone as soon the renovation works began so there is no confusion. The repair works will be completed soon and we will start conducting autopsies here.”