03 December,2011 06:41 AM IST | | Priyanka Vora
St George's Hospital officials claim MRA Marg police haven't come forward to collect 22 tissue samples
Unlike the popular series CSI or Body of Proof where medical examiners conduct extensive tests and provide the cops with the key evidence to nab the accused, over 20 samples of viscera (tissue of the person that is used for forensic examinations to determine the reason of death) have been lying at St George's hospital for almost 11 months.
MiD DAY found that the hospital had carried out the autopsy on Surendra Pradhan and Bhaskar Gadakhi in January.
Officials claim that the 22 tissue samples that lie at St George's
Hospital's post-mortem centre cannot be discarded as they
have not received a no-objection certificate from the MRA Marg police
But, till date their viscera samples lay unclaimed in the hospital's post-mortem centre, leaving their families still questioning the circumstances behind their loved one's death.
Conventionally, in case of an unnatural death, during the post-mortem, doctors preserve parts of the tissue and vital organ for chemical analysis and/or a histopathological examination.
The rule states that the doctors are needed to hand over the stored viscera sample to the investigating officer.
However, in the case of St George's Hospital, the rule has been flouted as 22 viscera samples lay unclaimed.
Ironically all the samples belong to the MRA Marg police station.
Dr D R Kulkarni, the medical superintendent of St George's Hospital, said that the doctors after completing the post-mortem insist that the police official concernedu00a0 collect the sample and if at all a sample is pending, they send the police station a reminder.
Dr Pravin Shingare, director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research, said, "The viscera has to be sent for a chemical analysis within three months of the post-mortem for accurate results.
u00a0
We store the samples in our centres only if the police have provided us with a no-objection certificate."
Importance of viscera
Explaining the importance of viscera, a senior forensic official said that for a forensic examination to be accurate, the viscera samples are of prime importance.
u00a0
"The doctors have to immediately ask the police to collect the viscera and submit it to the laboratory, as these examinations are time consuming and any delay in them leads to delay in the investigations," said the official.
Experts add that if the viscera do not reach the lab for examination in time the exact cause of death will never come to light.
