CORPSES BEING MISHANDLED? CORONER'S OFFICE INVESTIGATED AFTER REPORT ABOUT MAGGOTS.Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County officials said Thursday they are investigating a television report that more than 40 percent of the bodies at the coroner's office have maggots and that corpses were improperly handled. ``Our office is reviewing the reports, speaking with the coroner's staff, and the supervisor will act accordingly,'' said Tony Bell, spokesman for Supervisor Michael Antonovich. The reports surfaced Wednesday night on KMEX-TV ``Noticias Univision Noticias Univision is the news unit of the Univision television network. History Noticias Univision began broadcasting in 1981 as Noticias SIN (Spanish International Network- Univision predecessor). 34'' and come about four years after an investigation found rats had invaded the coroner's complex and were found feeding on bodies. In a prepared statement, KMEX-TV said a reporter obtained confidential documents, video and an interview with an unidentified coroner's employee who alleged the coroner's office was negligent negligent adj., adv. careless in not fulfilling responsibility. (See: negligence) in how it handled corpses, including improper refrigeration refrigeration, process for drawing heat from substances to lower their temperature, often for purposes of preservation. Refrigeration in its modern, portable form also depends on insulating materials that are thin yet effective. . Craig Harvey, the coroner's chief of operations, defended the office, saying that some bodies do come into the facility with maggots but that the bodies are stored at temperatures that kills or renders them dormant. ``Maggots are a cost of doing business,'' Harvey said. ``It's what we deal with on a daily basis. Maggots can sometimes give us clues as to the time of death. ``A small percentage of bodies that come into our facility have maggot maggot: see blowfly; fly; larva. activity on them when they arrive. I don't believe it's as high as 40 percent.'' Referring to KMEX-TV video showing bodies being transported without being on gurneys or properly strapped down, Harvey said officials are investigating and trying to determine whether discipline is warranted. On any given day this year, the coroner's office has about 400 bodies in its facilities, about 50 to 80 more than it's designed to hold. Last Sunday, the office had 415 bodies. The Board of Supervisors has allocated $10 million to the coroner's office to commission a feasibility study "A Feasibility Study" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It first aired on 13 April, 1964, during the first season. It was remade in 1997 as part of the revived The Outer Limits series with a minor title change. for a new building or annex an·nex tr.v. an·nexed, an·nex·ing, an·nex·es 1. To append or attach, especially to a larger or more significant thing. 2. that would cost $30 million to $60 million. troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com (213) 974-8985 |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion