Milestone marked in post-mortem technology

The equipment will be installed at the city’s Forensic Science Centre this year.

The contract has been signed between Bradford Council and iGene to install three-dimensional visualisation software and a scanner which will mean non-invasive post-mortems examinations can be carried out as a possible alternative to the traditional procedures.

The non-invasive process is intended to be “less harrowing” for relatives who have lost a loved one.

In some cases it may allow the body to be released for a funeral sooner, if there are no further investigations and examinations to follow.

Deputy leader of Bradford Council Coun Imran Hussain, said the move would be welcome news for bereaved families.

Coun Hussain said: “We are proud to be pioneering this modern technology as Bradford is one of the first places in the country to have a digital autopsy facility. It will be welcome news for all bereaved families as traditional invasive post-mortems can be distressing for relatives. This new technology will ensure we can offer a less invasive post-mortem to families as an alternative in appropriate cases.”

Matt Chandran, chief executive of iGene, will be in Bradford today to seal the deal.

Ash Govind, global vice-president of iGene, a subsidiary of the Malaysian enterprise Infovalley group of companies, said: “Our new Bradford facility will be a real milestone.

“We are building an extension to the Forensic Science Centre to house the new scanning facility and are very pleased to be in partnership with Bradford Council at this exciting time.”

Last year the UK’s first digital autopsy centre was launched in Sheffield at the city’s mortuary in the Medico Legal Centre, Upperthorpe.