By Nalinee Seelal Monday, September 24 2012

Government Forensic Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov, who is recovering from an outbreak of ulcers on one of his hands and who returned to work last Monday, is calling on Government to provide a third pathologist to deal with the backlog of work at the Forensic Science Centre.

Alexandrov complained recently that his ulcers came about because of poor ventilation and substandard working conditions at the Forensic Science Centre. With Alexandrov away from work on sick leave, patholgist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes was hired to carry out 15 autopsies in a three-day period two weeks ago. Des Vignes, who is assigned to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, will do autopsies at the Centre twice per week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

Another pathologist Dr Eastlyn McDonald-Burris has also been on sick leave and will return to work on October 4.

Alexandrov said he flew to Tobago on Friday to carry out the first autopsy at the spanking Scarborough Hospital and described the autopsy room there as state-of-the- art. Alexandrov said he was grateful for the assistance of Des Vignes.

He noted, though, that being a government pathologist also meant preparing reports for the police, giving evidence in court and even visiting crime scenes. He said he has 60 outstanding reports for the police and over 80 more yet to be done.

“The international standard requires that only 250 autopsies be carried out by one pathologist per year, but for the year I have already completed over 330 autopsies and both Burris and I together have already completed 660 autopsies. This is a cause for concern,” he said in an interview. Alexandrov described the former Minister of Justice Herbert Volney as being very helpful in having changes implemented at the Centre. He said that following a recent meeting with Volney, enginneers came to the Centre two days ago to inspect the mortuary room with a view to having outdated equipment replaced.