GEORGETOWN – Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, has raised concerns over calls for a second autopsy in the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, despite a unanimous conclusion from three internationally acclaimed forensic pathologists that the child died by drowning.
Speaking on Friday, Anthony questioned the rationale behind seeking another post-mortem when the initial examination was thorough, witnessed by family representatives and deemed satisfactory by all parties involved – including Trinidadian born, Dr Gary Collins, the chief medical examiner for the state of Delaware in the United States.
Anthony warned that the integrity and legal effect of a second autopsy could be questionable, as the body has not remained in official custody since the original procedure.
According to Anthony, the initial autopsy was performed by a team that included Collins, Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul, a UK-trained forensic pathologist serving in Barbados, and Dr Glenn A. Rudner of Mount Sinai Hospital also in the United States.
All three independently and collectively concluded that Younge died from drowning, with no signs of forced submersion or trauma.
The Health Minister noted that the autopsy included full body scans and internal examinations, with samples sent for advanced analysis to Mount Sinai and the National Medical Services Laboratory in the United States.
Now, a fourth opinion is reportedly being sought from Trinidad and Tobago – Dr Hubert Daisley – a controversial figure previously criticised for an incorrect cause of death determination in a 2013 case, where he mistakenly attributed a death to strangulation/murder rather than an asthma complication.
At the time, Trinidad’s then-Health Minister stated that Daisley was not qualified as a forensic pathologist under their Medical Board.
Adriana Younge was discovered dead in a swimming pool at a local hotel on April 24, during a family outing. Her body was examined on April 29 and subsequently released to her family for burial.
The government has reiterated its confidence in the findings of the original post-mortem and cautioned against undermining public trust in the process without credible reason.
Anthony stressed that Daisley would first need accreditation from Guyana’s Medical Council before being allowed to practise locally. (CMC)
