MARGAO
Asserting that the dead has the right to a decent burial and timely cremation, former Judge Desmond D’Costa on Sunday reminded that the Supreme Court, as well as the National Human Rights Commissions, have time and again insisted on the right to live with dignity not only for the living persons but extends to the dead as well.
Speaking on the theme of the day-long National Symposium on “Death Deserves Dignity “ the way we look at it” at the South Goa district hospital organized by the Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine to commemorate its 50th anniversary, Judge Desmond further said that the media has a role to play, more so the social media, when deaths are flashed by violating the privacy of the individual.
“The media should adopt the masking technique to protect the privacy of the dead. That’s not all. No personal derogatory comment directed at the dead should be published,” he said.
Judge Desmond said the existing laws and rules have mandated the various authorities, including doctors handling the bodies, the police and the mortuary attendants to comply with guidelines just to ensure the dignity of the deceased is not violated.
He said the topic of death without dignity became relevant during the pandemic when dead bodies were floating in the river Ganga.
Judge Desmond further pointed out that the law protects from physical exploitation of the deceased.
Jnanpit award winner Damodar Mauzo also addressed the symposium on the philosophy of death, where he referred to the thousands of deaths taking place in Ukraine due to the ongoing war.
Head of South Goa district hospital Forensic Department Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, Ashutosh Apte and others addressed the seminar in the morning session.
