COVID-19: Dead Body Management

ABSTRACT

The pandemic of COVID-19 has posed many challenges to the medical fraternity and those involved in handling dead bodies. The challenge of dead body management has been devastating to humankind due to the enormous numbers of dead bodies in this pandemic. People get panicked while dealing with the dead bodies having infection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 [SARS- CoV-2]. Deaths occurred in such big numbers that facilities were outnumbered by the magnitude of deaths. The idea of writing this paper is the concise dissemination of knowledge about the safety of the persons involved in dealing with the dead bodies so that proper preventive measures can be taken, and that too in such a manner so that the respect for the dead body or dignity of the dead body is not compromised. Forensic pathologists are to deal with post-mortem examination cases that pose special hazards as they are more exposed to infection e.g., coming in contact with body fluids and aerosol formed during post-mortem examination. Now there is a gradual change from a panic reaction to the scientific disposal of the dead bodies thus giving proper dignity to the dead body. The scenario has changed from no autopsy in such cases to autopsy after taking proper precautions under the national guidelines. © 2022