The space shortage at the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife prevents the use of one of the acquired equipment by the Government of the Canary Islands to determine the real age of individuals claiming to be unaccompanied foreign minors.
In this way, in Tenerife, the work backlog in the instruments used for this purpose at the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria (Hunsc) cannot be alleviated.
The Government of Canarias’ Department of Presidence, Justice, and Security purchased an orthopantomograph (a dental X-ray machine used among other things to ascertain the age of unaccompanied migrant minors), and the equipment arrived at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on January 25th.
However, it remains in a box as there is no physical space to place it, according to sources from the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML). Part of the staff at the institute began an indefinite strike on Wednesday, aiming for the dismissal of the director, Jesús Vega, due to alleged mismanagement, lack of transparency, and shortage of human and material resources.
Institution workers regret that “no one planned for the location to place the orthopantomograph,” and this is also the director’s responsibility.
IML officials explain that installing a radiology machine requires a “shielded space,” i.e., insulation to prevent radiation.
The only shielded area at the Institute of Legal Medicine’s headquarters is occupied by the machine used for radiological tests on corpses. However, professionals find that this space is “dirty,” as bodies in different states of preservation pass through there. Therefore, it is not suitable for placing the new equipment.
It is worth recalling that the Department of Justice acquired two orthopantomographs, one for the IML in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the other for Las Palmas, with the aim of expediting radiological tests on migrant individuals claiming to be minors to ascertain their age.
The Institute of Legal Medicine in Las Palmas has space to place the aforementioned machine.
This was one of the complaints that emerged on the first day of the strike by workers at the IML in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, involving forensic doctors, autopsy assistants, processors, and judicial aids. It’s important to note that the mobilisation was called by the Canary Islands workers’ unions Intersindical Canaria (IC), Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), Central Sindical Independiente y de Funcionarios (CSIF), and Sindicato de los Trabajadores de la Administración de Justicia (STAJ).
Some sources explained that as of Wednesday, there were 20 FFP3 masks and an already started formaldehyde can in the autopsy area at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Tenerife, which was borrowed from the Toxicology and Forensic Sciences Institute of the Ministry of Justice. They also indicated a lack of scalpel blades.
According to the Strike Committee, the reason for these shortages is that a request for materials was made on February 1st, and three weeks later, the products have not arrived.
They highlight deficiencies in the facility’s operations, citing that since January 31st, the door to the autopsy room was not functioning, and one of the examination tables used by forensic experts to analyse causes of death was also inoperative.
Specifically, one of the ventilation hoods used for formaldehyde, a cancer-causing substance, was not working. Union sources explained that the deficiencies were reported to the director and the deputy director of the Institute, but there were no developments. The same report was subsequently sent to the General Directorate of Relations with the Administration of Justice and the Occupational Hazard Prevention delegation, and measures were subsequently taken.
Workers at the Institute of Legal Medicine lament that despite numerous unmet material and personnel resource needs, which are “scandalous priorities,” a significant amount of money was spent on the purchase of an autopsy video recording system, including cameras, screens, or audio equipment, among other items.
One issue is that the use of this audiovisual equipment requires an autopsy assistant to operate it from outside the room. However, this is difficult as the IML only has three professionals of that category to meet the demands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro.
Union sources also criticise the examination of unaccompanied migrant minors without an official interpreter present. In such situations, educators or caregivers from reception centres, or other migrant minors, translate dialogues between forensic experts and users.
The Socialist Group of the Parliament of Canarias will request explanations from the Minister of Presidence, Justice, and Security, Nieves Lady Barreto, in the plenary session on February 27th regarding the situation at the Institute of Legal Medicine.
Furthermore, discontented staff with the institution’s management and work organisation have filed a complaint with the Archipelago Ombudsman, which has already been accepted for processing.
