Srilanka, May 7 -- The Ministry of Justice and National Integration has informed coroners that deaths of all children under the age of five will be subject to a mandatory post-mortem examination. Making it mandatory for all deaths of children under five has several disadvantages. It can cause additional worries for grieving families, especially when the cause of death is well known.

The procedure is invasive and may conflict with cultural and religious beliefs. Financially, it places a heavy burden on the health system, with each post-mortem costing around Rs. 15,000. It is a waste of the hospital's invaluable resources, delaying funerals (which are not favourable from an Islamic perspective) and other essential services.

Furthermore,...