missing heart — The missing heart of a Briton has sparked concern after it was sent to the UK for testing, according to a Cyprus forensic pathologist. Marios Matsakis addressed the issue on Alpha TV, shedding light on the challenges posed by the lack of histopathology services in Cyprus.
The case in question involves a 73-year-old British woman whose husband, aged 76, died unexpectedly in the Famagusta district. Upon returning to the UK for a second autopsy, the grieving widow discovered that her husband’s heart was not present, having been removed during the initial examination.
Missing heart: Challenges of Forensic Testing in Cyprus
Matsakis explained the process behind organ examinations, noting that typically only small biopsies are taken from vital organs for histopathological testing. However, in rare instances, an entire organ, such as a heart, may be removed for thorough examination. This particular case exemplifies the complications arising from the absence of a histopathologist in Cyprus.
“Because we don’t have a histopathologist in Cyprus, these tests must be done in England by the histopathologist who has a contract with the Republic of Cyprus. This takes months,” Matsakis stated. He elaborated that in a system with proper histopathology services, results could be returned within two to three days, allowing families to proceed with burial or repatriation of the deceased.
The Journey of the Heart
The absence of local histopathological services has resulted in a reliance on a contracted histopathologist based in London. Matsakis remarked on the previous failures in establishing effective services within Cyprus, highlighting that initial arrangements with local histopathologists faltered due to overwhelming workloads.
Despite the challenges, Matsakis emphasised that families should have been informed about the removal of the heart. “The heart can be returned to the family if they want it,” he noted, indicating that while the process is lengthy, the possibility remains for the family to reclaim the organ later.
Need for Improvement in Forensic Services
The case raises critical questions about the capabilities of forensic services in Cyprus. Matsakis suggested that the frequency of histopathological examinations might indicate a need for further training among local forensic pathologists to better ascertain causes of death without relying on external histological testing.
“There should not be a need for histopathological examinations of organs so often. They should be able to determine the cause of death without this specialised examination,” he concluded, highlighting an area for potential improvement in the system.
