The law had given legal teeth to state authority to burn unclaimed corpses in its mortuaries– after a period of time.
Reacting to the development, Mr Charles Audu, a lawyer, told NAN that
the signing into law of the bill was a commendable effort by the
governor because it would help reduce the problem of unclaimed corpses.
“This is a commendable effort by the Governor because it will help
reduce the problem of mortuaries being filled with unclaimed corpses,”
he said.
Mr Adewale Adeleke, also a Lagos based lawyer, told NAN that though
the Lagos state government had signed the bill into law with good
intentions, including decongesting morgues, some other things should
have been considered.
“This is Africa where we have people with different beliefs,
superstitions and traditions that could contradict the idea of cremating
corpses; I just personally feel all these things should have been
considered.”
Mrs Olaitan Aina, a teacher, said that though the act was not
compulsory on all residents, but the feelings of the masses should have
been considered before its enactment because nobody would like to see or
hear that the corpse of a relative, friend or family member was burnt.
“The act of cremating unclaimed corpses could have psychological
effects on their families, if they later find out and think of what must
have been done to the body. I just hope there is a form of counselling
for them,” she said.
Miss Adenike Sobowale, a trader, noted the novel idea behind
cremating unclaimed corpses, but questioned what happened to those
without the means for burying their relatives.
“If we can’t keep the corpse at home and we have no money for a
burial yet, are we now going to be forced to leave the corpse for
cremation?”, she asked.
The law empowers medical practitioners, with government approval, to
cremate abandoned and unclaimed corpses, after a reasonable period of
time has been given as notice.
(NAN)
(NAN)
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