STATEMENT
For Immediate Release:
January 5, 2021
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is committed to the safe and respectful care and sheltering of bodies after death. The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PaLM) program at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is the regional forensic pathology unit for southwestern Ontario, and provides forensic autopsy support to the regional coroners’ office and Ontario’s death investigation system, as well as hospital autopsy services when necessary. PaLM provides body holding support for up to 28 bodies for the period of time when coroners and bereaved families work together to make arrangements for the care of their loved one's body after death.
New processes due to the pandemic have resulted in increases in the time needed for securing appropriate arrangements and have necessitated additional interim body holding solutions. The use of an alternative body holding solution by LHSC is a temporary measure that has been implemented specifically to allow for continued support of the needs of our patients and their families, the regional coroners’ office and Ontario’s death investigation system.
To date we have rarely used the alternative body holding solution – this is only the second time we have had to use the mobile service since the start of the pandemic and we expect the capacity challenge to be resolved within days.
Glen Kearns
Integrated VP, Diagnostics Services and Chief Information Officer
London Health Sciences Centre
