15 December,2009 08:37 AM IST | | Alifiya Khan
Sassoon hospital buys advanced autopsy tables and fancy equipment even though doctors are not trained to use any of the gadgets. Staff still use a hammer to crudely open skulls during postmortems
Nearly Rs 1 crore has been spent on getting super advanced autopsy tables for doctors at the morgue in Sassoon hospital. Such facilities are available only at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
However, the hi-tech features don't seem to impress the forensic doctors much, and they are yet to learn how to use the machine properly. They are still using basic methods to conduct autopsies even three months on.
While the forensic team of Sassoon hospital refused to speak on this subject, forensic doctors in other institutions and also senior doctors at Sassoon Hospital said while expensive autopsy tables which were 'unnecessary' were being procured, basic equipment was still missing at the morgue.
No training
Doctors were unaware of how to use the new equipmentu00a0u00a0 properly and the advanced features would hardly be of any use at the morgue.
"These tables are imported and each costs around Rs 31 lakh. Any local company would have given these same features for less than Rs 10 lakh. First of all money was spent unnecessarily and after that the doctors weren't even taught how to use them," said a senior doctor at Sassoon hospital on condition of anonymity.
For example, doctors didn't know if the machine even had a hydraulic lift to lift the bodies. Even when they did know of accessories like a down draft ventilation system (one that sifts water and tissue) existed, doctors say they don't know how it works.
Speaking to MiD DAY, senior forensic experts from Mumbai said that staffers should first have been trained in handling the super advanced machines.
According to sources, the former head of forensic department at Sassoon Hospital, Dr M S Vabale, who died last month, was against the Directorate of Medical Education and Research's orders to buy the machine as it was too expensive.
Simple tools
While the hospital has been given a Rs 31 lakh autopsy table, it lacks an electronic saw to open skulls of dead bodies. Doctors are still using hammers to do the job in the most primitive way possible.
"Even we are thinking of asking for an electronic saw. It's very essential, it helps to cut down time, is scientific and is a less gruesome procedure," said Dr Rajesh Dere, forensic expert at Mumbai's Sion Hospital, while adding that the cost of this equipment may be around Rs 1.5 lakh.
Another forensic expert told MiD DAY that rather than purchasing the table, equipment like shadow less lighting equipment, odorless ventilation systems and power back-ups for mortuary were more essential.
"If autopsies are to be conducted after sunset, it is essential to have these lights as it gives correct findings, which are not possible under tube lights. If there was money to buy advanced tables, despite the fact that they already had tables, why not give priority to these equipments that were missing?," he questioned.
Dr M B Tayade, director DMER, despite repeated attempts, did not respond to our phone calls.
