The use of “virtual autopsy” to accommodate religious concerns was the subject of a recent seminar here at Bolling Air Force Base.

The procedure – using Computed Tomography (CT) scans rather than scalpels in post-mortem examinations – has been employed by the military over 2000 times at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. It saves time – often taking as little as two minutes, compared to up to ten hours using the traditional method; it can better render the path taken by a projectile; and it facilitates triage, including helping identify cases where an invasive, autopsy might be deemed necessary.

Not considered when the military began using the scans, however, were religious concerns. But such concerns were much on the minds of the presenters and more than forty military chaplains who participated in the Bolling Base seminar.

The event, which was spearheaded by noted askan, Chaplain Captain Menashe Miller, USAF, and coordinated by Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Ohio regional director of Agudath Israel of America, featured an expert panel — assembled by Rabbi Motzen, together with Rabbi Aaron Kotler, CEO of Beth Medrosh Govoha – who examined the issue of virtual autopsies from medical, legal, and halachic perspectives. Panelists included Commander Edward  Reedy, Ph.D., M.D., Chief Deputy Medical Examiner of the Armed Forces; Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America; Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, director and founder of the Chevra Kadisha of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens and the National Association of Chevros Kadisha; and Steven Sholk, Esq. a practicing attorney for 25 years and currently of Gibbons P.C.

In a compelling presentation, Rabbi Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, director of the National Association of Chevros Kadisha, conveyed the Jewish emphasis on preserving the dignity of the deceased, outlining some of the halachic issues related to immediate burial and autopsy. “Although blood and toxicology samples may still need to be taken in many cases,” he said, “virtual autopsy will have a significant impact in reducing invasive procedures.”

“With virtual autopsies, meisim who would otherwise need to undergo invasive and sometimes time-consuming procedures can be scanned and returned to the families for immediate burial,” said Rabbi Motzen, adding that the procedure is already being used to accommodate religious convictions in England and Australia. “Even when medical examiners may need to remove a bullet, the scan can pinpoint the exact location, saving the pathologist many hours of work, and the body from invasive desecration.”  
 
The Agudah representative noted that in cases of mass casualties like hurricanes, virtual autopsy can be used as a triage tool to decide which bodies can be spared more invasive autopsy.

Commander Reedy pointed out that virtual autopsies are so new and cutting-edge, the courts do not yet recognize their results as scientific evidence. Such recognition, he said, is critical for the procedure to be adopted for civilian use, and gaining court acceptance  is one of Commander Reedy’s highest priorities.

Once that happens, civilian medical examiners and coroners will be more likely to incorporate this technology into their work.  A number of medical examiners have already contacted the Armed Forces for more information about the procedure and the necessary equipment.

Expressing gratitude to Commander Reedy and the Air Force for their willingness to examine ways to respect the religious views of servicemen, Rabbi Motzen noted that Agudath Israel is planning similar presentations for other branches of the military.

“CT scans,” he added “have long helped to save lives.

“Now they hold the promise of preventing nivul hameis when a life, choliloh, has ended.”