The Physical Characteristics of the Mortuary in the Forensic Department of the Medical School Hospital

Abstract

Autopsy services play an important role in medical science by determining the cause and circumstances of death and supporting the judicial process. However, due to the specialized nature of forensic practice, studies on spatial use and physical environment of autopsy facilities remain limited.

This study was aimed to investigate the physical characteristics and spatial utilization of autopsy facilities in a teaching hospital. The methodology included: 1) a review of relevant literature; 2) an analysis of architectural drawings from one case-study hospital comprising two autopsy facilities located in one old building and the other new one; 3) field observations and interviews with three key informants selected through purposive sampling; and 4) data analysis.

The findings showed that the autopsy process consists of nine sequential steps, from body reception to release of the deceased to relatives or relevant authorities. Each autopsy requires at least three personnel: a forensic pathologist, an autopsy technician, and a forensic photographer, and takes approximately 90 minutes per case. These conditions have implied autopsy table capacity and workload management. Three principal zones were identified: the Transition Zone, Post-mortem Zone, and Diagnostic Zone. In order to achieve the overall suitability of the working environment, these zones should be systematically arranged due to their direct impact on workflow efficiency, the separation of functions across multiple buildings, safety as well as privacy of the deceased and their relatives. The study highlights the relationship between operational processes, personnel, and physical space, providing insights into planning and designing the future autopsy facilities.