Abstract
Introduction: The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) consist of 20,000 to 30,000 scattered islands spread across 8.5 million square kilometers of Ocean. There are three ethnogeographic distinct sub-groupings in the Pacific and they are Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. The evolution of the global Medico-Legal Death Investigation (MDI) system has produced the Coroner's, Medical examiner's and the newer European Continental systems. However, the PICs maintain post-colonial mixed medico-legal systems. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) is an important part of the MDI system. Objective: To review the MDI systems in the PICs and the recommend measures accordingly to strengthen the network for DVI in the Pacific. Methods: This is a qualitative research paper focusing on independent self-governing PICs from Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. Discussion: The PICs criminal codes, legal systems and post-colonial adaption of MDI systems are emerging. There are also many developmental limitations for MDI systems in the PICs. Despite the profound historical evidence of disasters of varying magnitudes, the Pacific MDI and DVI network exists as an informal one through personal acquaintance. Therefore, this demands a better and effective MDI system in the PICs particularly with regards to DVI. Conclusion: The need to fortify and better the DVI network in the Pacific will depend on good regional indicators. There is a crucial need for the operatives of the MDI system in the PICs to form a link through intergovernmental participation and association with other Pacific networks to drive the sustained development of the national and regional MDI system. Through this collaboration the Pacific DVI network could also be established centrally in a PIC that has a steady Forensic Science Service. Upcoming Forensic experts could operate out of this central location to serve the PICs accordingly. This eventually will achieve a standard practice and regionalization of the Pacific MDI network.
Highlights
The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) consist of 20,000 to 30,000 scattered islands spread across 8.5 million square kilometers of Ocean
There is a crucial need for the operatives of the Medico-Legal Death Investigation (MDI) system in the PICs to form a link through intergovernmental participation and association with other Pacific networks to drive the sustained development of the national and regional MDI system
There is a dire need for the reformation of court or legal systems and the inquest or coroner’s procedures in the PICs to incorporate standard MDI and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) phases
Summary
The PICs have limited resources and local expertise in the area of developing and strengthening the MDI system. Niue and Tonga uses the Inquests Act of 1964 and 1988 respectively that includes the Coroner's duties and both these PICs have legal systems based on the English common law. Tropical cyclones (50%), earthquakes (31%) and floods (11%) cause the most peril to the PICs with Papua New Guinea (27%), Fiji (21%), Vanuatu (13%), Solomon Islands (11%) and Tonga (7%) being the most affected [41]. This is because these PICs plus the FSM, Marshall Islands and Cook Islands geographically sits within the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’. Large scale: Include those human-induced disasters of a larger magnitude that can rapidly destabilize a nation
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