Mexico: PGR Debuts “super morgue” to identify dead bodies

In the final stretch of his term and amid the bloody war against organized crime that has so far left more than 60,000 dead, many of them unidentified the head of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), Marisela Morales Ibáñez inaugurated on Wednesday the first Forensic Medical Center (Cemefo) that will in theory determine the identity of the bodies.

The Center has a capacity for 150 bodies and, according to Morales Ibáñez, was equipped with infrastructure and technological equipment tip, so that it meets international protocols and regulatory standards for receiving, processing, preservation of cadavers and autopsy practice.

Thus Cemefo forensic specialists, based on scientific research, may determine the cause of death and mechanics, enabling the identification and preservation of the corpses.

During his message, Morales Ibáñez said that the Centre aims to ensure that the results have the reliability and certainty required in criminal proceedings.

In addition, he said, will be assisted by other institutions of law enforcement and justice administration in identifying corpses, autopsies and other studies required. Also, he said, will develop technical and scientific research and academic permanently, with the support of new technologies.

Therefore, we will implement a new program to provide a database at national level, it will enable the recognition of bodies.

To this end, he said, four classrooms were equipped with modern audiovisual equipment, which is 60% increase in installed capacity in areas of education and training and updating of experts in 26 specialties that include expert services of that institution.

Among the equipment available to them the facilities, is a chamber for preservation of bodies that complements the research areas related to forensic management bodies.

There are four seasons for the practice of autopsies and for those infectious-contagious risk, with the necessary biosafety conditions.

A laboratory X-ray high technology that will support knowledge before beginning the autopsy, the location and characteristics of the lesions and, where appropriate, ballistic elements, thus avoiding unnecessary damage to the bodies.

It also has a histopathology laboratory for the study of organs and tissues, in order to know the factors that might influence the cause of death and can not be perceived in the external review alone.

According to the prosecutor, in Cemefo may establish the correct identity of bodies and ensure delivery to families, as it has an area of ​​identification, intervene where multidisciplinary teams made up of dentists, anthropologists, geneticists, photographers and fingerprint and two ambulances to support the work.

also implement a new program for the identification of bodies and body parts, which provide information to a national database for effective search and recognition.

This, said Morales Ibáñez, will strengthen the institution of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), to provide the scientific tools needed to develop their work.

As we leave the presidency, the PGR opened also the Federal Expert Training Center, where experts will be trained in 27 disciplines.

Friday 9 November 2012

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