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Monday 23 February 2015

Govt doctor’s death: family to exhume body for tests

Second post-mortem exam to find cause of death, four years later

FMT


PETALING JAYA: The family of a Langkawi government doctor has been given permission to exhume his body after four years for a new post-mortem examination into the cause of death.

An Australian pathologist engaged by the family will conduct the post-mortem examination tomorrow together with a local pathologist, depending on the condition of the body, the Malaysian Insider reported.

Dr Sebastian Joseph, 30, a medical officer at a government clinic in Kuah, Langkawi, was found dead in his quarters at Padang Matsirat in November 2010. He was found in a kneeling position with his hands clenched, the Insider reported.

The family’s lawyer, M Visvanathan, was quoted as saying the family hoped it would be possible to determine the cause of death. Last month, the High Court in Alor Star had granted an application for an inquest.

After the original post-mortem at Langkawi hospital, by a general practitioner (GP) and not a pathologist, the cause of death was stated as “unascertained”.

The doctor’s mother, Santaamal Philip, was quoted as saying her son had told her previously he had wanted to make a report about patients being prescribed Panadol for many ailments, and the clinic pharmacy’s lack of various medicines which he had prescribed.

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