Doctors at the Judicial Medical Unit of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle and doctors at the Ruhuna University Judicial Medical Unit say that they have decided to refrain from conducting forensic medical examinations, including post-mortem examinations, until the body of a COVID19 victim is kept at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital morgue.

Due to this new development, Senior Lecturer at the Judicial Medical Unit at the University of Ruhuna Dr. U.C.P. Perera says no post mortem will be conducted at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital from today (23). Also, all forensic medical activities, including the daily examination of forensic pathologists and the issuance of reports on abused persons and drunk drivers, have been suspended.

Some people are proposing to keep the body in refrigerated containers and it is not practical at all," Dr. Perera said.

"We conducted a PCR examination on this body yesterday (22) and the results revealed that the virus is still active in the body. The entire staff, including the doctors of our Judicial Medical Unit, and all those who come to this unit daily for emergency autopsies are at risk from that bod," he added.

"We don't have cold storage facilities to keep this body. Some religious groups suggest that cold storage facilities be brought in and installed outside. We do not have enough space for that. Moreover, when the body is kept in a cold storage room, there is a risk that the coronavirus will remain active for more than two weeks. After considering all these factors, the entire Karapitiya Judicial Medical Division decided to suspend the service until the body is removed," he added