Materia Medica Malaysiana

Enough forensic pathologists in the country

There are enough forensic pathologists in the country, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said today.

He said there was one chief pathologist in every State, supported by other pathologists specialising in different medical disciplines.

"We are not suffering from any major shortage. In fact, we have enough pathologists nationwide," he said during a visit to the Balik Pulau Hospital here.

"The ministry is also training new pathologists to meet future demands."

Dr Abdul Latiff, however, could not provide the exact number of pathologists in the country.

He was asked to comment on a statement by Ipoh High Court judge Datuk V.T. Singham, who said there was an acute shortage of forensic pathologists at the Ipoh Hospital.

Singham said this after acquitting a 42-year-old mother accused of fatally strangling her five-year-old daughter. He did not even call for her defence because of the failure of the prosecution to provide any evidence, direct or circumstantial, linking the mother to the crime.

In his judgment, Singham had said future murder investigations in the State would suffer if the hospital did not address the shortage.

He had said there was no forensic pathologist available to conduct a post-mortem on the dead child, Winnie Chew, in December last year. The child’s body had to be stored in a freezer for 24 hours while waiting for a pathologist from Alor Star Hospital to arrive.

As a result, the time of death could not be ascertained.

Dr Abdul Latiff said the case was an "isolated" one.

"We have to understand that pathologists are human beings too," he said. "There are occasions when they need to go on leave or attend conferences.

"But I can assure you during those times, we do have people on standby. Whatever it is, we have ample pathologists to serve the whole nation."

Earlier, he presented more than 40 hampers to patients at the hospital.

Dr Abdul Latiff also said he would consider proposals to upgrade the Balik Pulau Hospital as and when the need arose.

"At present, I am satisfied with the hospital’s performance," he added.