John Tonge Centre
Encyclopedia
The John Tonge Centre is the mortuary for Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (FSS - formerly Queensland Health Scientific Services) and responsible for conducting autopsies in Brisbane
(and much of South-East Queensland
in Australia
) on people whose deaths make them subject to the Coroner
's Act. Such deaths include accidents, suicides, homicides, deaths during surgery and anything for which a doctor is unwilling to issue a medical cause of death certificate for. In cases when the family is called upon to attend the Centre to identify a loved one counselling services are generally available. The John Tonge Centre performs some 1200 autopsies annually and is adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital
on Kessels Road in Coopers Plains
.
A twenty-six million dollar construction operation was undertaken to help rectify the existing problems and the John Tonge Centre now has an annual budget of forty-five million dollars with a massive resulting reduction in the DNA backlog.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
(and much of South-East Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) on people whose deaths make them subject to the Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
's Act. Such deaths include accidents, suicides, homicides, deaths during surgery and anything for which a doctor is unwilling to issue a medical cause of death certificate for. In cases when the family is called upon to attend the Centre to identify a loved one counselling services are generally available. The John Tonge Centre performs some 1200 autopsies annually and is adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital is a public hospital located in Coopers Plains, Brisbane, Australia.The hospital originally was developed to be a site for future expansion of the Mater Children's Hospital, a center for servicing the needs of the Commonwealth Games held nearby and a range...
on Kessels Road in Coopers Plains
Coopers Plains, Queensland
Coopers Plains is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is south-west of the CBD.-Transport:Coopers Plains railway station provides access to regular Citytrain services to Brisbane, Beenleigh and Gold Coast. There are many buses passing Coopers Plains, which are 120 , 135 , 123 , 598 and 599...
.
Criticism
There have been accusations of long delays in DNA testing for criminal cases and further accusations about poor treatment of the dead. In 2005 an employee of the centre was under investigation regarding stolen body parts, based on written accusations by colleagues from some years before.A twenty-six million dollar construction operation was undertaken to help rectify the existing problems and the John Tonge Centre now has an annual budget of forty-five million dollars with a massive resulting reduction in the DNA backlog.