MP urges govt to initiate post-mortem for unexplained deaths

MP Mohamed Ibrahim on Tuesday urged Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim to initiate arrangements for conducting post-mortems in the Maldives, citing the absence of legal obstacles.

In a letter addressed to the Health Minister, Ibrahim highlighted the need to address unexplained and suspicious deaths by arranging post-mortems abroad. The letter emphasised the urgency of the matter, noting that seven unexplained deaths have occurred in the past two months alone.

Ibrahim underscored the public’s concern over unexplained deaths and the importance of transparency in addressing such cases. He argued that post-mortem examinations could help clarify the circumstances surrounding deaths and noted that arranging these services in the Maldives could reduce state expenses.

The letter also referred to existing legal frameworks, including the Criminal Procedure Act, which outlines the procedures for conducting post-mortems. Ibrahim suggested that the police should be empowered to conduct post-mortem examinations to establish the truth in cases of unknown deaths or deaths related to criminal incidents.

Additionally, the letter referenced the publication of the "National Standard for Forensic Medical Service in Maldives" and provisions within the Health Services Act, which allow the Health Minister to designate centres or agencies to perform forensic examinations, including post-mortems.

Ibrahim concluded by stating that there appear to be no legal barriers to conducting post-mortems in the Maldives and called for immediate steps to establish the service.