Department of Forensic Medicine, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Department of Anthropology (UGC Centre of Advanced Study), Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2021 Mar 7;15(2):247-253. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14584.
The personnel involved in the management of COVID-19 affected dead bodies, including law enforcement personnel at the scene of crime, personnel involved in transportation of the dead bodies, forensic practitioners, autopsy pathologists, mortuary personnel, as well as the family members of the dead, etc. are at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Post-mortem examination is a high-risk procedure, considering that it involves aerosol generating procedures, and exposure to body fluids. The safety of the forensic practitioners and support staff in the management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 deaths hence, is of extreme importance, especially in the absence of pre-autopsy testing for COVID-19 and due to non-availability of adequate first-hand medical history of the deceased. This communication aims to highlight the current practices and advises certain guidelines in ensuring occupational health and safety in view of these risks in medico-legal death investigations.
参与管理 COVID-19 死亡遗体的人员，包括犯罪现场执法人员、遗体运输人员、法医从业人员、解剖病理学家、太平间工作人员以及死者家属等，都有感染 SARS-CoV-2 的风险。考虑到尸检涉及气溶胶生成程序和接触体液，尸检是一项高风险的程序。因此，管理疑似或确诊 COVID-19 死亡的法医从业人员和支持人员的安全至关重要，尤其是在没有进行 COVID-19 术前检测且无法获得死者充分的第一手病史的情况下。本通讯旨在强调当前的做法，并就这些医学法律死亡调查中的风险，提供确保职业健康和安全的某些指南。
