Pengendalian Bedah Siasat Mayat Semasa Penularan Wabak Penyakit Berjangkit di Malaysia: Kajian Kes tentang COVID-19 (Conducting Post-Mortem During the Spread of Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Malaysia: A Case Study of COVID-19)

Abstract

Death of a medical examiner in Thailand as a result of a coronavirus infection from a corpse has come as a shock and concern to all parties. Its shows that all parties are at risk of getting a viral infection, such as COVID-19. Pathologists are also at risk of getting an infection because they are directly involved in the conduct of post-mortems, including during the spread of infectious disease outbreaks such as, COVID-19. In reference to the post-mortem during COVID-19, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has developed Guidelines for Handling Dead Bodies of Suspected/Probable/ Confirmed COVID-19. These Guidelines is considered generally as a guidance to all, but these Guidelines are also seen as not comprehensive. In addition, these Guidelines are not in line with the guidelines issued by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Moreover, the definition given in the Guidelines did not cover all type of cases. Only cases fall within the definition of COVID-19 cases can be tested. If it does not fall within the definition, then then the test cannot be conducted. Furthermore, the Guidelines also did not explain about of virtual autopsy. Hence, this article aims to assess the existing legal framework in Malaysia related to the conduct of post-mortem during spread of infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19.nThis article found that the laws and guidelines on conducting post-mortem during the spread of infectious disease outbreaks in Malaysia, particularly COVID-19 are not comprehensive. Indeed, laws and guidelines in relation to the conduct of post-mortem during the spread of infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 should be improved as well as enacting standard operating procedures in terms of practice in order to assist all parties involved.

Abstrak

Kematian pemeriksa perubatan di Thailand akibat jangkitan koronavirus daripada mayat telah mengejutkan dan membimbangkan semua pihak. Kes ini menunjukkan bahawa semua pihak mempunyai risiko untuk mendapat jangkitan virus, seperti COVID-19. Dalam aspek ini, ahli patologi turut mempunyai risiko untuk mendapat jangkitan kerana mereka terlibat secara langsung dalam pengendalian bedah siasat pada setiap masa, termasuklah semasa penularan wabak penyakit berjangkit seperti, COVID-19. Bagi tujuan pengendalian bedah siasat semasa COVID-19, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) telah membangunkan Guidelines for Handling Dead Bodies of Suspected/Probable/Confirmed COVID-19. Walaupun Garis Panduan ini dapat menjadi panduan kepada semua pihak yang terlibat secara amnya, namun Garis panduan ini dilihat tidak komprehensif dan mempunyai kekurangan. Antaranya, Garis Panduan ini tidak selari dengan garis panduan yang dikeluarkan oleh Institut Perubatan Forensik Negara. Tambahan pula, definisi kes COVID-19 yang diberikan juga tidak merangkumi semua jenis kes. Hanya kes-kes yang tergolong dalam definisi kes COVID-19 yang boleh dijalankan ujian. Jika tidak tergolong dalam definisi tersebut, maka ujian tidak boleh dijalankan. Malahan, Garis Panduan tersebut juga tidak menjelaskan pemakaian autopsi maya. Oleh itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk menilai kerangka undang-undang yang sedia ada di Malaysia berkaitan dengan pengendalian bedah siasat dalam menangani isu-isu yang berbangkit tentang pengendalian bedah siasat semasa penularan wabak penyakit berjangkit, seperti COVID-19. Artikel ini mendapati bahawa undang-undang dan garis panduan tentang pengendalian bedah siasat mayat semasa penularan wabak penyakit berjangkit di Malaysia, khususnya COVID-19 tidak menyeluruh. Sesungguhnya, undang-undang dan garis panduan berhubung dengan pengendalian bedah siasat semasa penularan wabak penyakit berjangkit seperti COVID-19 di Malaysia haruslah ditambah baik di samping penggubalan tatacara pengendalian piawai dari segi amalan untuk membantu semua pihak yang terlibat.

Kata kunci: COVID-19; bedah siasat; penyakit berjangkit; Malaysia