Dear Gabe On Monday I received an email from the undertakers requesting that a funeral notice be inserted in Goan Voice regarding a death. The announcement stated that: The person had died of multiple organ failure That the deceased had no immediate family in London That the body would be cremated
I published the announcement and was contacted by relatives in London of the deceased who pointed out: That the cause of death was in dispute and a claim of negligence had been lodged against the hospital many months ago That the relatives in London and had not been consulted or approved of the funeral arrangements That they suspect that the hospital is anxious to cremate the body to destroy the evidence. The hospital claim that the decision is based on costs. There were many other gravely disturbing allegations made some of which I am not in a position to reveal and/or verify. Accordingly I called the funeral directors on Friday but they refused my requests to reveal: Whether they had possession of the body By whose or what authority the hospital had or would release the body. The name of the person who had asked them to arrange the funeral. I therefore told them that I would amend the Funeral notice to indicate the status was uncertain and asked them to let me know of developments. I was informed that they would do so. I have a responsibility to the Community and it is my duty to alert them to changes that may take place. However, since then, more allegations have come to light so I have deleted the funeral notice. I have been unwittingly involved in a few acrimonious family disputes in announcing deaths and the one principle I have followed is that the next of kin have the final say in the Goan Voice announcement. In cases of doubt, I have sought proof of this. In this instance the name of the person who authorised the funeral is being withheld. I find that unacceptable. Would you have acted differently? Eddie Fernandes ======================================= -----Original Message----- Sent: 04 May 2013 22:29 *Stephen Gomes: Status uncertain* 9 Dec. 2012. Tooting Broadway, London. STEPHEN GOMES. Bachelor, aged 90, ex Mombasa E.A.R.& H. Died at St Georges Hospital. The Funeral that was previously announced may be postponed. http://www.goanvoice.org.uk Comment: The man has been on ice for 5 months and the status is uncertain with no link click on here? Goan Voice should be more pronounced and come out and tell us why the status has changed to uncertain and may be postponed. I phoned the undertakers and they are set to go - this discredits Goan Voice...perhaps Goan Voice knows some thing that escapes us? Please clarify or foreever be discredited. -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes .