The Madurai bench of Madras High Court on Monday stated that the autopsy of Saravanan*, who died at Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital on Sunday, is conducted by two senior professors from the Forensic Departments of Theni, Tirunelveli or Sivaganga Medical College and Hospitals.
Justice B Pugalendhi, who was hearing the case at a special sitting, accepted the plea of Saravanan's mother Santhi, who in her petition had stated that she had lost her faith in the doctors at the Madurai hospital. She had also requested that the entire procedure of the autopsy is videographed, which was accepted by the court. The three medical colleges mentioned by the judge will have the facilities to record an autopsy.
Saravanan, the 19-year-old man who died on Sunday, had attempted to kill himself on December 26 after he unknowingly donated HIV-infected blood, which was later transfused to a pregnant woman, who also contracted the viral infection.
Saravanan soon intimated the blood bank authorities that he was HIV positive and that he had donated blood a few days earlier without knowing about his infection. After he informed the blood bank, the officials called the pregnant woman back and tested her blood, which turned out to be infected as well.
He was admitted to Madurai Government Rajaji hospital after attempting to kill himself. Saravanan later died due to bleeding.
On Monday, his mother Santhi approached the court stating that she had doubts over her son’s death and requested that his autopsy is conducted by doctors other than those in the Madurai hospital. She also sought the court to order that the autopsy is recorded on video.
Santhi, in her petition, had stated that her son’s sudden death, especially when he was recovering well after the suicide attempt, and the discrepancy in the time of death made her suspicious. She also added that these had made her lose faith in the doctors at the Madurai hospital and hence requested the post-mortem be conducted by senior doctors from other government hospitals in the state.