The Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the Ministry will investigate the matter where a wrong body was given by the Suva Morgue Services to a Navua family who had unknowingly performed the final rites for a stranger.
While responding to questions by fijivillage on whether their contract with the Suva Morgue Services will be reviewed or if the families will be compensated, Dr. Fong says he cannot make any further comments.
Suva Morgue Services has told us that there has not been a mistake or switching of bodies by their staff.
Manager, Lanieta Cakacaka says the body of the deceased man from Navua had been identified by a family member who had presented the death certificate of the deceased.
She says the family also saw the body and confirmed that it was the deceased before they took it for the funeral.
Cakacaka further says that the family also signed the Deceased Release Identification Register Form.
She adds the coffin was opened to allow members of the family and friends to sight the body of the deceased before it was cremated.
Cakacaka says if there is anybody to be blamed for taking the wrong body then it is the family members who failed to recognise the body before cremation.
The Navua family says they were not given the opportunity to view the body as they were told the deceased had tested positive for COVID-19 and as per protocols, they were not to touch it and keep it covered.
Rohit Chand whose brother Rajnil Chand passed away on Sunday says they were accompanied by the Health Ministry staff when they took the body and performed the final rites.
He says they cremated his brother yesterday after getting the right body from the morgue while the ashes of the late Shailesh Subaiya were handed to his family.
Chand further says this has caused his family great distress as they have cremated a person who belongs to another family and have unknowingly snatched that right from them.
He adds the family will discuss after the funeral rituals have completed on what actions they will take.
The late Shailesh Subaiya’s brother, Shanil is also demanding answers.
The Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says he is aware of the incident where the body of a man from Ba was given to another family in Navua by mistake on Wednesday by the Suva Morgue Services at the CWM Hospital.
Shanil Subaiya of Raviravi, Ba says he is confused about how his brother's body could be given to another family on Wednesday.
He says his family members arrived at the hospital mortuary yesterday morning and after initial confusion about the payment, they were informed that his brother’s body was released to another family in Navua.
Subaiya says the other family cremated his brother’s body on Wednesday.
He says the Navua family has informed him that the body was completely covered and they were not allowed to view it.
He says that family has carried out another funeral ceremony for their family member and they will continue with the 13 days Hindu ritual for his brother.
In response to questions by fijivillage, Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the morgue services are outsourced.
Doctor Fong is yet to confirm if there will be an investigation.
Services at the CWM Hospital Mortuary are outsourced to Suva Morgue Services.
They have told us that there has not been a mistake or switching of bodies by their staff.
Suva Morgue Services Manager Lanieta Cakacaka says the body of the deceased man from Navua had been identified by a family member who had presented the death certificate of the deceased.
She says the family also saw the body and confirmed that it was the deceased before they took it for the funeral.
Cakacaka further says that the family also signed the Deceased Release Identification Register Form.
She adds the coffin was opened to allow members of the family and friends to sight the body of the deceased before it was cremated.
Cakacaka says if there is anybody to be blamed for taking the wrong body then it is the family members who failed to recognise the body before cremation.
We have reached out to the Navua family.
They are yet to respond.
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