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Mystery of ‘bone room’ in Melbourne health office investigated by coroner Mystery of ‘bone room’ in Melbourne health office investigated by coroner
(4 months later)
Court told human remains appear to be from a ‘number’ of people but no record of their origins has been foundCourt told human remains appear to be from a ‘number’ of people but no record of their origins has been found
Workers have stumbled upon a “bone room” containing the remains of multiple unknown people inside a Melbourne health agency’s corporate offices.Workers have stumbled upon a “bone room” containing the remains of multiple unknown people inside a Melbourne health agency’s corporate offices.
A nurse educator noticed fluid leaking into a hallway from a disused room at Eastern Health’s administrative building, opposite the Box Hill hospital, on 14 February, the Victorian coroners court was told on Thursday.A nurse educator noticed fluid leaking into a hallway from a disused room at Eastern Health’s administrative building, opposite the Box Hill hospital, on 14 February, the Victorian coroners court was told on Thursday.
She entered the room and found bone and tissue fragments inside containers and waste bins and reported the incident to infection prevention and control officers from Monash University’s medical school, the counsel assisting the coroner, Lauren Bedggood, said.She entered the room and found bone and tissue fragments inside containers and waste bins and reported the incident to infection prevention and control officers from Monash University’s medical school, the counsel assisting the coroner, Lauren Bedggood, said.
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Two days later, an ear, nose and throat surgeon accessed the room and found an orange bucket in a fridge containing human bones, which were preserved in formaldehyde.Two days later, an ear, nose and throat surgeon accessed the room and found an orange bucket in a fridge containing human bones, which were preserved in formaldehyde.
The “bone room”, which was found one level below Eastern Health’s executive offices, was reported to the coroners court on 27 February.The “bone room”, which was found one level below Eastern Health’s executive offices, was reported to the coroners court on 27 February.
The court contacted police the following day to report discovery of the remains.The court contacted police the following day to report discovery of the remains.
“They attended the bone room and found that the scene had been cleaned and the remains placed within yellow hazardous waste bins,” Bedggood said.“They attended the bone room and found that the scene had been cleaned and the remains placed within yellow hazardous waste bins,” Bedggood said.
“A plastic bag containing unknown identified material was also located within the freezer section of the fridge.”“A plastic bag containing unknown identified material was also located within the freezer section of the fridge.”
The remains were photographed and sent off for forensic testing.The remains were photographed and sent off for forensic testing.
Eastern Health has claimed the remains were kept to be studied by medical trainees.Eastern Health has claimed the remains were kept to be studied by medical trainees.
However, there are no records that prove the room was used for studying or teaching anatomy and no records about the origin of the remains.However, there are no records that prove the room was used for studying or teaching anatomy and no records about the origin of the remains.
Eastern Health claimed it had bought the remains from the University of Melbourne in 2014, but the university reported having no record of this, Bedggood said.Eastern Health claimed it had bought the remains from the University of Melbourne in 2014, but the university reported having no record of this, Bedggood said.
Coroner Paul Lawrie is investigating whether the remains can be classified as a reportable death or deaths.Coroner Paul Lawrie is investigating whether the remains can be classified as a reportable death or deaths.
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“Ordinarily, this starts with the identity of the deceased, but here we have remains, and [I] understand that they are remains from a number of individuals … and all are unidentified,” he said.“Ordinarily, this starts with the identity of the deceased, but here we have remains, and [I] understand that they are remains from a number of individuals … and all are unidentified,” he said.
He said forensic testing had not helped identify whose remains they were, nor where the remains may have come from.He said forensic testing had not helped identify whose remains they were, nor where the remains may have come from.
Eastern Health has engaged an external investigator to examine the incident and recommend changes to framework, processes and policies.Eastern Health has engaged an external investigator to examine the incident and recommend changes to framework, processes and policies.
The public health body’s lawyer, Karen Cusack, said it was trying to figure out the source of the remains by interviewing current and former staff, as there are no other records.The public health body’s lawyer, Karen Cusack, said it was trying to figure out the source of the remains by interviewing current and former staff, as there are no other records.
“The search for the records has turned up nothing,” she said. “We’re hoping perhaps some of the former staff may be able to point to some other records – there might be some personal records that have been kept.”“The search for the records has turned up nothing,” she said. “We’re hoping perhaps some of the former staff may be able to point to some other records – there might be some personal records that have been kept.”
The coroner directed Eastern Health to finalise the first stage of its investigation in the next four to six weeks.The coroner directed Eastern Health to finalise the first stage of its investigation in the next four to six weeks.