Post-mortem delays to be studied

Press, 9 July 1983, Page 9

Post-mortem delays to be studied

PA Wellington Problems and delays in conducting post-morten examinations will be examined by a working party set up by the Minister of Justice, Mr McLay. Events earlier in the year had highlighted the need to consider the whole question of the release of bodies in greater detail than had been previously done, Mr McLay said.

He promised to undertake any legislative action that the working party decided was necessary. The member of Parlia-

ment for Eastern Maori, Dr Peter Tapsell, has been campaigning for some time on behalf of Maori people for the quick release of bodies, and last year he introduced a private member’s bill into Parliament in an attempt to ensure that coroners and pathologists would be available at all times. Mr McLay said the convener of the working party would be Mr A. Prothero, Wellington’s Deputy Coroner. Other members of the party were Dr W. L. Kenealy, a Wellington pathologist; Mr G. R. Lau-

renson, medical superintendent at Wellington Hospital; Mr W. Potaka of the Health Department; Chief Inspector Brian Law of police headquarters; and a Maori elder, Mr R. Love.

“The working party will investigate how widespread delays are, and their causes,” Mr McLay said, “it will also look at how delays can be avoided or significantly reduced, whether more post-mortem examinations are held than are really necessary, and if so whether delays are caused as a consequence.”