Multiple Fatality Disasters and Mortuary Management

Pathfinder Forum has provided assessment of death investigation systems or mortuary services in four of Canada's provinces/territories and in three jurisdictions in the United States. The type of work involved includes the following:

• Providing management and assessment of mortuary services (including off shore);
• Coordinating with or making representation to government(s), participating agencies and other specialized services (e.g. for identification of dead) following disaster;
• Providing compassionate liaison with families re: circumstances, cause of death and identification of loved ones;
• Representing government, transport carrier(s) or families to interpret and assist with local procedures or consular protocol;
• Enabling timely and compassionate repatriation of the dead from overseas to home;
• Representing investigative agencies to assess pathology (e.g. re: causation) or to assist in delivery of mortuary services during investigation of a man-made disaster such as an air crash.

The most recent example of this kind of work was the crash of Swissair Flight 111 off the coast of Nova Scotia on September 2, 1998. At the time, Dr. Butt was Medical Examiner for the province, and became heavily involved with the recovery operation. Below are links to some of the media coverage of this event:

• Pathologist at Swissair disaster says compassion necessary
  CBC News, September 3, 1999
• Swissair: Those Left Behind
  CBC The National Features
• Frozen In Time: The Swissair Disaster
  CBC The National Features

In addition, you can view a video dealing with the subject using the free RealPlayer plugin.

PATHFINDER
FORUM

Dr. John C. Butt

Suite 400
1681 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6J 4M6