New Delhi : In a significant decision, the Delhi government has now allowed authorities to conduct post-mortems even after sunset, according to an official statement. “Enabling a landmark reform in the national capital, the Delhi Government has made the post-mortem of dead bodies possible even after sunset in Delhi,” the release stated. According to the statement, the move will be a big help for relatives of the deceased, who often have to wait long hours to receive their dead. It will also encourage and facilitate organ donation and transplantation.
However, a provision has been made to only examine the dead bodies during the day in cases where there is a suspicion of murder, suicide, rape, or foul play, he added. On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia directed Health department officials to conduct post-mortems even at night in hospitals with adequate facilities. He also asked the hospital in-charges to ensure all necessary infrastructure at mortuaries for conducting post-mortems.
“The Delhi government had sent a proposal to the Union government for conducting post-mortems in hospitals after sunset. They will be carried out at hospitals that have adequate facilities for the medical examination. Post-mortems related to organ donations will be done on priority,” he said.
He said bodies brought for post-mortems at night will be attended to without delay.
“Earlier the bodies would be kept in safe custody at night. Bereaved relatives had to wait the whole night to claim and bury their dead, making their losses even harder and more painful to bear. But now, bodies are being brought for post-mortem even at night and they are being processed promptly,” he added.
He also informed videography of the post-mortems would be done all through the night.” To avoid any doubt or confusion on the bodies, all the post mortems done at night will be video-recorded and the footage will be preserved for legal purposes. This decision will also facilitate organ donation and transplantation, as organs can only be retrieved within a stipulated period of time once the post-mortem is done,” he further said.
