Taipei City Government

On July 6, Mayor Ko Wen-je attended the inauguration ceremony for Taipei City Inspection and Autopsy Center (IAC)—the first of its kind in the country to carry advanced autopsy instruments and facilities.

Jointly established by the Department of Civil Affairs and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, the center boasts stainless steel operating tables, negative pressure ventilation, and medical-level filtration system (including HEPA 99.97% air filter and ultraviolet radiation sterilization). These facilities prevent air from leaking outside of the room when conducting forensic investigations.

Ko pointed out that the construction of the facilities required NT$18 million from the city government’s reserve funds to complete. The center’s establishment signified a leap in Taiwan’s judicial development as its adoption of cutting-edge technology helps to enhance the standard and quality of forensic autopsies.

With the installation of 15 cameras—two of which are remotely controlled—prosecutors will be able to communicate with forensic pathologists without having to set foot inside the autopsy room.

Ko added that IAC also comes with a sewage treatment system which disinfects and processes discharge from corpses contaminated with infectious diseases such as SARS or open tuberculosis, minimizing the possibility of polluting the environment.