Head of National Science Lab Says They Have Backlogs  

The process of completing postmortem examinations and the timeliness of doing so has also been an issue for families who must wait for a week or longer to get the autopsies of their loved ones. When this happens, it slows down the burial process for those families. Today, Executive Director of the National Forensics Science Service, Gian Cho explained that sometimes they experience a backlog of cases and it has to do with a shortage of personnel.

 

Gian Cho, Executive Director, National Forensics Science Service

“I would say we’re experiencing backlogs not only because of the higher caseload, and also because one of our medical examiners retired in February, and we’re actively working on trying to fill that vacancy. Vacancies aren’t filled overnight, alright. You have to make sure you get them properly trained, qualified individual. So we went from three medical examiners down to two – two medical examiners on duty. But the particular case this week was really unfortunate because we actually were scheduling the case from last week to do the autopsy – I think it was April 10th. Unfortunately, the police vehicles that were used to transport patients’ bodies from the south of the country were, I believe under repairs or at the mechanic for repairs. So the police actually asked us: “We don’t have the vehicle to transport the cadaver to the morgue all the way here in Ladyville. Can you please postpone?” So the autopsy would have been done from last week if we had the transportation. It’s regrettable, though, that sometimes the communication is not as it should be ‘cause If the police vehicle is down, which we understand, vehicles have mechanical issues, sometimes families would offer, if they have the resources because they would still need to travel to the morgue to I.D the body to receive after the postmortem. So it highlights the need for not only more resources for cadaver transport, cadaver storage, but closer communication with families, with grieving families.”