‘Death is actually not the end of everything’, says forensic pathologist

Despite the many misconceptions about death, a forensic pathologist, Dr Eze Uwom, has said Nigerians need to discuss the dead and death in a pragmatic manner and plan for it like other functions such as naming ceremonies, because death is a natural evolution of life.

Dr Uwom, at the launch of his book titled ‘The Dead is Not Dead,’ at the Centre for African Newborn Health and Nutrition (CANHENT), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said discussing the dead and death will drive away the fear of death as a concept and ensure people see all humans as vulnerable and, therefore, maintain a harmonious society.

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“Death is part of life; death is a natural evolution of life. When people die, the cycle begins and continues, and the purpose of writing this book is to bring us to that consciousness where we can discuss death in a pragmatic manner.

“The book ‘The Dead Is Not Dead’ is to let us interact, even with the different areas of specialty in medicine. Actually, the dead are not dead, and it is hoped that medical practitioners, especially when patients die, shouldn’t see it as a phase of care that is over and move on but as another phase of care just beginning.”

Professor Williams Odesanmi, the founding father of forensic pathology, who joined online, declared that the title of the book talks to the experience of all pathologists because the dead still speak with the living.

According to him, “death is actually not the end of everything, but to a forensic pathologist, it is the beginning of life. The dead reveal to us the entire secret the living hid from their physicians.”

Dr Tony Marinho, a foremost obstetrician and gynecologist, stated in the review that the book proved beyond reasonable doubt that the dead are truly and in reality not dead.

“He draws us in and thrusts us headlong into all imaginable and actual aspects of life in the after death, proving beyond reasonable doubt that the dead is truly and in reality not dead. Certainly, the contents of the book will equip any reader for the successful management of encounters with death in the future.

“Sometimes, the dead are not dead; they thrust themselves back into our immediate consciousness from the depths of past memory.

“The author emphasised the dignity to be accorded to the dead during the entire period of residence of the dead in the mortuary and expressed his views on despicable remarks about the body of the dead as well as views and advice regarding communication or lack thereof with young children of the deceased as well as the need for achieving medical closure,” he said.

At the book launch were many personalities, including Professor Saad Ahmed, Dr Yussuf Abdullahi, Chief Ifeanyi Chukuma, Colonel Igwe Omoke, Professor Femi Ogunbiyi, Professor Musibau Babatunde and Professor Wuraola Shokunbi.

Chairman on the occasion, Professor Abiodun Ilesanmi, stated that the title of the book is synonymous with the dead being alive, adding that it attracts deep thoughts and exposes the vanity of life.