State pathologist warns of crisis in autopsy services
Dr Linda Mulligan, the chief state pathologist, said that due to several Dublin hospitals closing their autopsy services, the Dublin District Mortuary was now operating at twice its intended capacity. Picture: Colin Keegan
The chief state pathologist has warned of an increasing crisis in the Department of Justice’s ability to carry out autopsies on homicides and suspicious deaths due to widespread staffing shortfalls.
Dr Linda Mulligan told the that Ireland’s four full-time State Pathologists are facing increased pressure as more hospitals pull the plug on autopsy services.
According to Dr Mulligan, the fallout from three Dublin hospitals — the Mater Hospital, St James’s Hospital, and Beaumont Hospital — shuttering their autopsy services has led to the Dublin District Mortuary operating at twice its intended capacity.
'Grace and favour'
“[The Office of State Pathology] must rely on access to Dublin District Mortuary and to the HSE hospital mortuaries around the country if we are called by the local coroner and directed to perform a postmortem examination in a suspicious death,” said Dr Mulligan.
“What's happening a lot is that the access is limited because they're dealing with an increased workload. They prioritise the non-suspicious death cases locally.
“It's understandable. They're not our mortuaries, they're not Department of Justice facilities, and it's the HSE staff who assist us in the postmortem examinations … It is their grace and favour that we rely on.”
Dr Mulligan said while long-term fixes are being worked on, “there have been difficulties” engaging with the Department of Health.
Separately, one of Dublin’s four coroners, Aisling Gannon, has vacated their post. The Department of Justice does not intend to fill the seat.
Sources in the Coroner’s Service raised fears that the unfilled vacancy will lead to Dublin’s three coroners becoming further stretched in carrying out inquests, with families facing further delays for closure on a loved one’s death.
