Seyed Ali Azin - MD, MPH
Katayoun Jahangiri - MD, MPH, Phd

According to the United Nations’ World Disaster Report, I.R.IRAN is one of the ten Most Disaster-prone Countries of the world. Management of corpses is one of the most difficult aspects of the Early Response Phase in Disaster Management and like other phases requires comprehensive advance planning and high levels of preparedness. One of the important components of risk analysis in the pre-disaster phase is the study of the problems encountered in the management of previous disasters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a qualitative study that involved the following stages: 1. Data Collecting: Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with more than 30 people in various managerial positions who were involved in the response phase after the Bam Earthquake. 2. Data Analysis: was based on the conceptual framework of the study. 3. Synthesis of information and identifying a number of “main themes”. 4. Construction of a theoretical framework on the basis of the main themes. Results: Ascertainment of death, identification of the dead bodies, and the burial process were among the 18 main themes in the Response Phase after the Bam Earthquake. The most prominent areas of concern were the following: 1. Problems related to the manner in which the handling of dead bodies was organized and structured. 2. Problems related to identification of the dead. 3. The acceptability of this process to the local people. 4. Neglect of professional standards in ascertaining death and burying dead bodies. Discussion: in the event of a major disaster, the current structures and procedures are inadequate for dealing with problems related to the diagnosis of death as well as identification and burial of dead bodies. Experience gained from previous disasters has proved that the disruption occurring in the wake of a major disaster usually leads to hasty, ill-advised measures with potentially irreparable consequences. However, this should not be used as excuse to lower standards and neglect the basic principles in dealing with the issues outlined above.

Managements, Dead bodies, Identification, Bam Earthquake, Response