Coronial services are currently being performed by the Consultant Forensic Pathologist and other government officials appointed on an Ad Hoc basis. This state of affairs has created a vacuum in the governance structure of the office of the coroner which impacts adversely, particularly on high profile cases.
During the inquest on the death of journalist Harry Yansaneh, former magistrate Adrian Fischer was appointed as the Coroner to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the For Di People reporter who died allegedly as a result of being assaulted by politician Fatmata Hassan and her family.
This ad hoc manner in which coroners are being appointed on an as is where is basis ensures that the vast majority of reportable deaths are neither identified nor investigated due to lack of mechanism for reporting such deaths.
Given the incidence of the recent death of journalist Ibrahim Samura of the New Age newspaper there is now a growing need to resuscitate or set up a permanent office of the coroner to provide leadership and coordination of coronial services to address growing situations.
The provision of timely medico-legal investigation and certification of deaths in a professional and courteous manner, while ensuring the highest level of the deceased individuals’ their loved ones, and the community through the adoption of best practices is very important.
Consultant forensic pathologist, Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma explained that the resuscitation of the coroner’s office would improve the quality of coronial services, since the coroner’s office contributes immensely to public safety and security.
He said coroners are able to identify patterns linked to complex and complicated deaths and take steps to prevent such deaths in future.
An efficient coronial service, the pathologist explained, “is able to keep the streets free of the dead and destitute.”
Notwithstanding the benefits, he noted that there are financial implications due to the need for the establishment of the relevant infrastructure and recruitment of the coronial workforce.
Dr. Owizz added that although coronial investigations are domestic affairs, there are international implications because of basic human right to life.
The office of the coroner is an arm of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that provides death investigation services. The office serves the living by working on behalf of the deceased to obtain the truth about the circumstances of their death.
By Ophaniel Gooding
Monday June 18, 2018.
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