Situation is grim at post-mortem centres in Mumbai: Autopsy surgeons

Dr Rahul Jadhav, who is one of the leading autopsy surgeons at Rajawadi post-mortem centre is recovering at home, his wife and their son also contracted the novel Coronavirus

I feared death, but I returned home safely," Dr Rahul Jadhav responded spontaneously when asked about his ordeal. The 43-year-old forensic surgeon fought COVID-19 and is now recuperating at his Ghatkopar residence. His wife Sunita, 42, is also recovering, while their son Atharva, 17, who is asthmatic, has started exhibiting symptoms since Sunday.

"Living with COVID-19 is not less than a nightmare, especially when you realise that your wife and child are also suffering. Moreover, the nature of the job and the guilt of making them suffer make the situation more tough to handle," said Dr Jadhav.

Two of the five forensic surgeons at five different autopsy centres are currently battling COVID-19, while the three others have resumed work post-recovery, said Dr S M Patil, police surgeon and medico-legal adviser to the state, who is also the in-charge of these centres. The forensic surgeons are from Rajawadi, JJ, Cooper, Siddarth and Bhagwati post-mortem centres. Those undergoing treatment as of now are from Rajawadi and Siddarth centres.

10-12 bodies a day

A few weeks before falling sick, Dr Jadhav was one of the leading autopsy surgeons at Rajawadi centre that was getting 10-12 bodies daily. Most bodies did not have mandatory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) reports on them, and some had negative results. In such a case, it is very risky to come in direct contact with body fluids of a deceased as many a times RAT is false negative, explained Dr Jadhav. An RT-PCR test can confirm the diagnosis but the report takes anywhere between 24 to 48 hours.

"On April 15, my colleagues and I worked continuously at the post-mortem centre and I had slight body ache, throat pain and was feeling feverish. But I ignored these, as I was in-charge of Rajawadi post-mortem centre. Then I was called to JJ post-mortem centre for expert autopsy duty," recalled Dr Jadhav, who had also conducted autopsy of 11 COVID-19 patients who had died in the Dreams Mall fire.

"On April 17, the pain increased and I kept myself somewhat distanced from the staff. On April 18, I used one of the RAT kits, used to test the dead bodies that come without a test, and my result came back negative. But, I went to Rajawadi hospital and got an RT-PCR test done."

On April 19, he was informed by the civic body that he had tested positive, and was advised home quarantine. Meanwhile, he had started medications.

"On April 21, suddenly I got a high fever so I did a blood test and learnt that I needed proper medical care. As a precaution, I got admitted at Rajawadi hospital for two days. But another COVID-19 patient was brought to my room and I decided to go back home. My wife had also tested positive by then."

"My oxygen saturation started dropping to 90-93 per cent, I did physiotherapy and took medicine. After the sixth day, my saturation level rose to 98 per cent and remained steady," Dr Jadhav said, adding his life was saved by the first dose of vaccine he took on March 31.

Huge risk

A senior forensic surgeon, not willing to be named, said, "The situation is grim at almost all post-mortem centres in the city where dead bodies brought by the police neither have COVID-19 positive tag nor the RAT report showing false negative. This exposes the staff and surgeons to huge risk. The worst part is that the centres are not sanitised, as there is no regular supply of disinfectants. Also, most centres don't regularly get N95 masks and face shields. Only PPE kits are available."

An employee of a centre said, "Even the deceased's relatives who visit the centres are not sure if they are asymptomatic carriers of the virus and neither are the policemen who bring papers for disposal of the bodies. The risk of getting infection from the papers always exists. And usually social distancing goes for a toss when relatives come."

Other side

When asked the reason for vulnerability, Dr Patil said, "It is difficult to point out asymptomatic carriers of the virus among the relatives visiting the post-mortem centres without wearing PPE kits or proper cover. The autopsy surgeon and staff get exposed. Also, RAT is not confirmed. Many times, RAT reports show false negatives and only an RT-PCR test can confirm the diagnosis. But police and relatives insist on early release of bodies and we have to oblige to their sentiments."

"I have directed all the centres to release bodies at the earliest, and directed all staff to wear PPE kits and take utmost precaution. We have also provided sodium hypochlorite for usage at the centres," he added.

However, a surgeon at a post-mortem centre said, "We haven't got sanitisers, N95 masks and face shields for the past few months. Only PPE kits are available. This is because only 60 per cent of the yearly budget has been released from the home department so far." We are forced to take care of ourselves amid the pandemic. The home department should take cognisance of our working condition, or else the post-mortem staff and autopsy surgeons will become victims of COVID-19 soon."

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No. of forensic surgeons currently undergoing treatment