Alexandrov complains of unfair treatment for Tobago autopsies

It is alleged that Des Vignes is not willing to go to Tobago to conduct autopsies.

Alexandrov yesterday described this situation as inhumane and antisocial.

“It’s a mess, it’s a catastrophe and I cannot get any explanation on what is going on except the absolutely universal stupidity, incompetence, total misunderstanding of what we are for and how we are doing things, that’s the problem of this country.

“Trinidad and Tobago is one country and the people in Tobago deserve the same quality of service in a timely fashion as Trinidad. I realise that something is happening between Des Vignes and the Scarborough Hospital so I offered to compromise. I agreed to take all the cases in Tobago but on the basis day for day.

If I agree to travel, Dr Des Vignes will take one of my days here in Trinidad. He refused so now there are two bodies in Tobago, who is supposed to finish the job? I want fair treatment, so I am not traveling (to Tobago) anymore.” He explained that he has received emergency calls from the Tobago Homicide police department, the Ministry of National Security and the Scarborough General Hospital about a buildup of bodies for over two weeks at the morgue with no one coming to conduct the autopsies while Mc Donald-Burris was on vacation.

He added that the length of time taken for an autopsy in Tobago can interfere with investigations.

“In the face of death, there is no such thing as mentality and culture. In many cases, especially when we are talking about homicide, the autopsy should be done as soon as possible. The autopsy is a very important part of the investigation, it does not solve crime but it gives clues. Delaying autopsies is a trauma for the families and a hindrance to investigations.” “Thank God the mortuary is state of art in Tobago so the body is kept in good condition but not indefinitely. It does not stop decaying, it slows it down. If we are talking about two weeks it is not so detrimental but we need to remember how the families feel. Keeping a body in a fridge for so long is not culture. Even the people who do not have to do anything with forensic would not intervene.” He recalled an instance where he spent two days doing autopsies in Tobago last year December.

He added that the issues began last year and to date he has not received an explanation as to why he is mostly called upon to conduct autopsies in Tobago.

Calls to pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes went answered yesterday.