Stiff Corpse

Corpse Handling Procedure

"Mas! What the hell is this? How come..."

"Yes doc... the doctor relaxed first." he said soothingly. But my heart is not at all calm, this is very awkward. All the questions in my head were about to pop out, gushing into his muddy face. Mas Joko told me to sit down. He then offered me another form that read "Letter of Death".

My eyes widened in shock "Loh mas, it has not been examined..." I wonder.

"No need to check the dock, just filled as much as possible..."

My forehead bent "This is a possible criminal case, you know..."

It's just not natural. His body was not checked for death, was declared dead, was not examined first, was immediately put into the morgue, the morgue was locked with chains and padlocks, then the witness who brought the body here was sent home, and last I was told to write a death warrant. Let's not say this puskesmas is criminal.

Mas Joko looked at me confused, her lips dabbling, about to say something. I waited for him, explaining all this, but no word came out. Instead, he took the form back and wrote it himself.

"This is how doc.. for the examination can be done tomorrow morning"

"Well, what tomorrow? Why not now? Let me check.. his family is called, this is probably a criminal case mas" Ocehku repeatedly.

I can't wait. Does Mas Joko not understand about the visa? or maybe someone is trying to hide from me? When I expressed the intention to examine the corpse right now, his face looked terrified.

"Do the doctors know?"

"Do not know what? I know about the visa, the procedure is not like this" I said half-mockingly.

"Ohhh, yes, the doctor is still new..."

"Yes I am a new doctor graduated, but I also understand this, I have also done frequent and experienced visas!" My atonement.

"Don't take it personally doc... Just relax.. haha.." said Mas Joko chuckling. His laughter was more like a frightened person, diverting something. I could see sweat pouring out of his face, Mas Joko was nervous.

"Look at the doctor tomorrow morning the police and his family came... We'll check in the morning with the police... The family's coming tomorrow morning, too..." Added Mas Joko.

"Loh... later the death sign changed all, I later how to fill in the death letter if you do not know the estimated time of death mas?"

"MAS! This is a suicide man! It's a criminal case!" Mas Joko instantly bowed in fear when I snapped at him.

"I also don't understand doc sorry." he said lirih. "Sir Badrun taught it like this to me. I also have only been here one year, doc..." Mas Joko.

Hearing Mas Joko's frightened tone, my heart softened a little. I shouldn't have snapped at my co-workers like this. Mas Joko, it seems, just follows the habits. Maybe indeed the procedure of handling the body in this health center is like this, strange.

"So I just fill in the origin of this death warrant?" my words lowered the tone. I took a deep breath, trying to be patient.

"I-Iya doc.. origin just first. if indeed the doctor is not pleasing tomorrow morning in the contents as well as check"

Actually I want to snap at him one more time. How can the death sign of the dead person in the afternoon be examined the next morning. Stiff the body must have been full of the whole body. Then if the corpse had died of confusion then the race would have no mouthfeeling. In this case, the cause of his death and the estimated hour of his death cannot be ascertained because there is no clinical evidence. So what should I fill in this form tomorrow morning.

What if the woman is still alive? I didn't really see the sign of his death. We didn't really see him die. Just imagine if the woman woke up and found herself locked in the dark morgue. Locked with iron chains and padlocks. Can be demanded this puskesmas by his family. Really weird.

I snorted in annoyance, while taking a deep breath. I tried to extinguish the flames of my anger. Yes if it is like this, the procedure of handling the body in this health center, what can be done. I can't put my idealists forward, I'm here a new guy. I can't immediately go against the existing system and become this habit, even though it's actually misguided. I have to be patient, tomorrow maybe I will discuss with Doctor Denny only, this is really inconsequential. I'm just afraid the police are questioning the contents of this death warrant that I'm writing. But hearing Mas Joko's explanation earlier, I can only obey him. Let him take responsibility tomorrow morning.

I started filling out the death certificate. Several times I asked Mas Joko, assuring that I was free to fill in as per my arrest on the corpse earlier. Of course, I wrote no medical evidence at all.

As I write, slowly Joko tells me about this strange procedure. Indeed, in the village there are often deaths, especially deaths that are potentially criminal. Every corpse sent to the health center, whether criminal or not, is always placed in the morgue behind and in the lock. So the dead body was natural (not potentially criminal) was also placed there, very strange. Mas Joko said he also did not know and did not ask Mr. Badrun about the reason for the lockdown.

After that, the process of handling the body will be done half to one day after the corpse is placed in the health center. So if he died in the morning, then at night or the next morning, the new family came to the health center. If the body is potentially criminal, then the police will also come tomorrow morning.

Mas Joko continued to tell a long story, with his distinctive language. He was trying to convince me. The morgue was only used for the corpses of these villagers. According to Mas Joko, this village is indeed a lot of criminal cases. Not only that, this village is also famous for its activities, drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Like this dead woman, Mas Joko recognized her as an ******* in the village. I was shocked, the village where I lived turned out to have such bad habits. Cases of bodies like this are often the case, and puskesmas officials already understand very well. The police are also familiar with this procedure. Mas Joko guarantees there will be no misunderstanding.

I kept writing while listening to the story. It's only fitting that in a remote puskesmas like this, there is a morgue with quite complete equipment. Part of my curiosity was answered, it seemed like I could trust Mas Joko a little. He seemed to be still frightened after I snapped earlier. After I finished writing, I apologized to him. Although I am a doctor, I should not yell at other medical personnel just because of my higher rank and profession. There must be tolerance between me and him.

The fear on his face slowly disappeared, Mas Joko then let me rest upstairs. Oh my goodness it's 9 p.m.