"Doctor, is it possible to avoid performing a post-mortem on my child?" It was a heart-wrenching question that a forensic surgeon in Kerala had encountered recently when an eight-year-old, who had drowned in a swimming pool during a family outing, was brought for post-mortem examination. For grieving families, the anguish is often compounded by the thought of a surgical blade cutting into the body of a loved one, the distress of seeing it stitched up after examination or religious beliefs surrounding death and dignity.
To address such concerns, forensic experts in Kerala have proposed a modern method - "virtual autopsy" (VA) or 'virtopsy'. A detailed project report for establishing a VA centre in the public sector is pending with the state government.
The technique makes it possible to determine the cause of death without cutting open the body. While VA may not be applicable in all cases, it could significantly reduce the need for conventional open-body autopsies.
Core equipment proposed
* 16/32-slice CT scanner for whole-body scans, particularly bone injuries and internal trauma
* 1.5T/3T MRI scanner for detailed soft tissue, brain and cardiac evaluation
* 3D image reconstruction workstations for forensic visualisation and virtual dissection
* Forensic radiology software with medico-legal modules such as Amira, Mimics and OsiriX MD
* Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) with secure cloud back up
My take
A step in the right direction; it would be using technology to our advantage.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 5, sent the messages, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.
It's Lekha's birthday by the English calendar. Wished her first thing in the morning!
Morning cuppa with Lekha.
Walked on the road in front of The Quarterdeck, recited my prayers and carried out my exercise regimen.
A quiet Sunday!
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