BENGALURU: Victoria Hospital will soon adopt Virtopsy, also known as virtual autopsy, to examine bodies without opening them. The virtual autopsy uses scanning technology, specifically a scanner, to scan the body. The images are then processed to obtain a 3D visual representation of the organs.

Victoria will become the first government hospital in South India to adopt this technology. Currently, AIIMS in New Delhi and NEIGRIHMS in Meghalaya are conducting virtual autopsies. The city’s St John’s Medical College Hospital is the only private hospital to have this facility in South India.

A senior official from Victoria Hospital said the process of adopting this technology was nearing completion and the Department of Medical Education was keen to introduce virtual autopsy. More than 3,000 autopsies are carried out each year at Victoria Hospital. Virtual autopsy allows bodies to be examined more quickly. In the initial phase, virtual autopsy will be used in cases of road accidents and accidental falls, as they usually have bone fractures.

“Furthermore, in most cases of road accidents, people will be treated before they succumb to their injuries. In such cases, there will usually be no foul play, which will require detailed examination to find out the reasons for death,” the official said.

However, cases of murder, suicide and dowry deaths require conventional autopsy methods. “As technology has improved and virtual autopsy is more accurate, we can adopt it even to examine murder and suicide cases,” the official said.

A source said that in the past there was opposition to body incisions because some religious beliefs do not support them. However, doctors must perform autopsies in accordance with the law. This technology can make the process less traumatic for the families of the deceased. Additionally, virtual autopsy can help research and doctors are supportive of it, he added.