Forensic pathologist Dr Putu Alit, who played a key role in the difficult and drawn-out identification process, recalled this week the trauma, sleepless nights and frustrations that followed the terrorist attacks in Kuta's central nightclub area 10 years ago.
Dr Alit, who still works at Denpasar's Sanglah hospital, said many bodies were so badly disfigured that identification in some cases took up to three months.
"Not all we can identify," he told AAP.
"We still have about six victims and 38 body parts (unidentified after three months) because they are in bad condition."
The explosions were so massive, particularly the almost 1,000-kilogram bomb that detonated in a white Mitsubishi van outside Kuta's Sari Club, that some victims were said to have virtually vaporised, leaving no remains. Even 10 years later two are still unnamed.
Interpol protocols require two identifiers, primary and secondary, Dr Alit explained.
Primary identifiers include fingerprint, dental and DNA evidence.
Many young Australians raised on fluoridated water had either no or incomplete dental records, and some victims were too badly damaged to be fingerprinted.
This meant that DNA evidence was used in about half of all cases.
In the absence of primary identifiers, at least two secondary identifiers must be found, including medical, property and photographic evidence.
One Swedish victim was identified by a unique upper arm tattoo.
"It was very specific," said Dr Alit.
Other indicators included medical scars, necklaces and rings, which were especially helpful if they bore the owner's name.
In the case of one Australian teenager killed, the brand of jeans she was wearing helped, in addition to primary identifiers.
Dr Alit was part of a dedicated team that worked virtually around the clock in the days and weeks after the bombings, from 8am until they fell asleep, often after midnight.
The delay in confirming victims' names was a source of frustration and anguish for Australian families at the time, but authorities had to be 100 per cent sure of identification.
"At the beginning it was a riot (a confusing scene) with many, many victims coming," Dr Alit recalled.
"Many had severe burns and victims came in many body parts."
He said it was difficult for medical staff to keep their emotions in check in the face of such an atrocity.
"Because we are doctors we must be impartial, neutral," he said.
"We must do no sad, not appear like that. We only must do our duty."
Thursday 11 October 2012
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/doctor-recalls-trauma-of-bali-bombings/story-fn3dxix6-1226493677919
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