Morgues languish in sub-human conditions: HC

The report encompasses the condition in the morgues of eight hospitals, including St George, Cama and Albless, Nair, JJ, KEM, Sion, Cooper and Rajawadi. The report states that mortuaries attached to medical colleges are comparatively cleaner, except that of Cama hospital. However, the morgues controlled by coroners (JJ, Rajawadi, Cooper) are the worse off in cleanliness and maintenance. For instance, at the time of inspection, the JJ mortuary held over 100 dead bodies for disposal, while five bodies awaited examination in the morning hours. “There is a tendency to preserve the viscera aimlessly and unnecessarily for a long period, which raises the stink,” comments the report.

Apart from the coroner courts, the committee found shabby surroundings even in other morgues. In most mortuaries, the walls (some cracked) need to be painted. In five morgues, including St George and Cooper Coroner, old viscera (of over two to three years) were seen lying in the room.

The report also records poor cold storage facilities. The Cama and Albless hospital did not have cold storage rooms, the air conditioners were out of order in KEM hospital and doors of the cabinets were not in working condition in Rajawadi and Cooper.

The committee also found that the morgue staff was not suitably trained. Interestingly, the shoes provided to Sion hospital mortuary staff were not of the correct size! Protective gloves and shoes given to the staff at the Nair hospital are also not of the required size. The KEM staff was found not using masks, goggles and separate protective sets prepared for post-mortem of HIV positive cases. The report further states that the staff needs to be given basic education in separate handling of male and female bodies.

The post-mortem rooms are also found to be uniformly ill-maintained. A senior medical officer of each morgue is asked to keep liaison with the Public Works Department of the state government to ensure proper electric fitting and other basic infrastructure.

The court today directed the government to carry out minor changes in morgues (like painting of walls) up to September 6 and report to the court on September 8.