Morgue Wants To Post Photos Of Unclaimed Bodies Online

@artemeis (4194)
China
March 8, 2013 10:48pm CST
I must say that I was quite shocked and could not believe that this could happen in our world today which boast of advancements in science and technology. Well, as shocking and unbelievable as it may sound but it is true. In Cook County, Chicago, a Medical Examiner by the name Dr. Steve Cina, wants to give these bodies a chance of at least being known by releasing photos online and hoping that it would trigger off "positive" results. I am sorry but I refuse that there's no better or sensitive way of resolving this matter. I felt the people in authority are taking the shortcut here which is really unthinkable considering these photos are disturbing contents. Are people becoming more heartless and most of all, insensitive? What's your take?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Mar 13
What if you lost a family member? They just disappeared. Wouldn't you like to have a site like this where you could check to see if your missing family member was there? I certainly would. I don't think its a bad idea at all. It isn't like you have to go to that site. I don't think it is heartless or insensitive at all. I would be thankful to have this site if I was looking for a loved one.
@artemeis (4194)
• China
9 Mar 13
With a country as big as yours and mine, do you know how many such sites would there be if all the morgues are going to do this? Some time later, some smart geek will decide to centralize the information into one website. Now, imagine yourself trying to find someone with multiple sites or one centralize one - I wonder how many disturbing contents must you view before you can find your family member. Let's not forget that these photos will (mostly) not be able to show the facial features accurately. Simply to do with biology and nature. I am sure there are other ways because today's forensic and criminal sciences have progressed really far. In my country, when the family makes a missing person report the police will collect their DNA's and the records stored in the central register. At the same time, all bodies in the morgues or found persons will have their DNA's collected and records sent to the central register to conduct a match. On this point, I felt that the lawmaker here is being Renaissance and taking the easy way out.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Mar 13
It may not show the facial features but can list clothing, jewelry and other things that may identify someone. And can you try to realize how much quicker families can be contacted and bodies layed to rest with this new idea? With technology such as it is today i am acutally alittle surprised someone hadn't thought of it before. And the family members don't have to look at the bodies if they don't choose to. It isn't supposed to be pretty or stylized, it is supposed to be helpful.
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Mar 13
I disagree. I think it would be a helpful tool.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
9 Mar 13
I am actually not sure how this could make people feel about it. I don't think having those pictures shown will make any difference at all most especially if the features of the deceased have somehow changed. I know that the morgue means well about this, but, I just don't feel right about it.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
9 Mar 13
Feelings aside but these disturbing contents (pardon my choice of words) I feel simply cannot solve anything especially giving closures to both the deceased and family members of the deceased. You are right on the fact that these photos would not help because the facial features would be distorted over the course of time and decomposition. I cannot believe that the present sciences and technologies in forensic and criminal sciences are not enough to do the job. Finger prints, dental records, DNA's, facial reconstruction and recognition software are all available lest Cook County, Chicago is still living in the Renaissance Age, then I rest my case.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
10 Mar 13
My answer for that that is: they are most likely cutting down on cost. Compared to just putting them online on their website, then it would also mean less time for them to looks for those records.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Mar 13
If I were a family member, I wouldn't want their photo displayed that way. But on the other hand, if it allows somebody to be "found" who wouldn't be otherwise, who's to say that the family wouldn't be grateful?
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
15 Mar 13
To be honest, I doubt these photos would be of any help considering the possible distorted facial features of these deceased. It could result in mistaken identities and unnecessary panic attacks from these foreseeable mistakes. I really doubt this particular lawmaker has done "everything" or used every technologies available today in this area.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Mar 13
This indeed is a first and it would not be a site that I would visit or want to visit. But just perhaps, if a relative of mine was missing then I would visit the site as all people need some kind of closure and i think it is the not knowing that it very painful. Please God I would never have to visit such a site.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
9 Mar 13
I was trying to tell the member above to imagine how many sites would you need to go through or photos in one centralized site before one could find or fail to find. Also, I don't think this lawmaker has any intention of going through the proper facial reconstruction before releasing the photos. I can assure you a nightmarish process and experience here. Somehow, this lawmaker is being Renaissance where he literally forgot that there are procedural tools to help him like finger prints, DNA's, dental records or simply PS to do facial reconstruction and run a facial recognition against the country's main frame to search. He just did not exercise due diligence here.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Mar 13
You have many good points - I did not think this through
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
10 Mar 13
We already have that here in Mexico. its kinda sick, but with 1000s of unnamed bodies every year in Mexico, they need to get those photos out there somehow.its works here. i saw 43 % had been claimed and named here last year. The year before with out photos was 11 %.
• Mexico
10 Mar 13
Not sure, but anyways the bodies are identified by their families. So Im sure they are right..