Post-mortem in hospitals allowed after sunset, know the previous rules

Representational Image (Reuters)

New Delhi: "An end to the system put in place by the British," said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday (November 15, 2021) as the Centre allowed conducting post-mortem after sunset in hospitals with adequate infrastructure.

According to an official statement, the step was taken in response to the multiple references received by the Union Health Ministry from various sources and in line with the government's commitment to promote ease of living by reducing the burden imposed due to compliance to government processes.

"Apart from friends and relatives of the deceased, this new procedure also promotes organ donation and transplant as organs can be harvested in the stipulated time window after the procedure," the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.

The changes made in the post-mortem protocols have been made effective from Monday itself.

Taking to Twitter, Mandaviya said, "An end to the system put in place by the British! Post-mortem can be conducted round-the-clock. In furtherance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of good governance, the health ministry has decided that post-mortem can be conducted even after sunset in hospitals which have the facility to carry out the procedure at night."

अंग्रेजो के समय की व्यवस्था खत्म!

24 घंटे हो पाएगा Post-mortem

PM @NarendraModi जी के 'Good Governance' के विचार को आगे बढ़ाते हुए, स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय ने निर्णय लिया है कि जिन हॉस्पिटल के पास रात को Post-mortem करने की सुविधा है वो अब सूर्यास्त के बाद भी Post-mortem कर पाएँगे।

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) November 15, 2021

The multiple representations to the ministry in this regard were examined by a technical committee in the Directorate General of Health Services, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

"It was ascertained that some institutes are already performing night-time post-mortem. In view of the rapid advancement and improvement in technology, especially availability of required lighting and infrastructure required for post-mortem, performing night time post-mortem in hospitals is now feasible," the ministry said.

"The protocol stipulates that post-mortem for organ donation be taken up on priority and conducted even after sunset at the hospitals which have the infrastructure for conducting such post-mortem on a regular basis," it added.

The health ministry further said the fitness and adequacy of infrastructure, among others, shall be assessed by the hospital in-charge to ensure that there is no dilution of evidentiary value.

"It is also to be ensured by the facility that video recording of post-mortem shall be done for all post-mortem conducted in the night, to rule out any suspicion and preserved for future reference for legal purposes," it underlined.

However, cases under categories such as homicide, suicide, rape, decomposed bodies and suspected foul play should not be subjected for post-mortem during nighttime unless there is a law and order situation, the ministry stated.