Trip to Liberia canceled due to Monkeypox epidemic

The pathologist hired by Princess Cooper's relatives to perform a second postmortem on her remains says he is unable to travel to Liberia because to a recent incident of monkeypox in 23 locations around the world, notably Nigeria, where at least one individual has died from the disease.

In an email to the Justice minister, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, the trauma surgeon from the Philippines cited the "epidemic of Monkeypox in West Africa as among the reasons for my incapability to move to Liberia to perform the second necropsy," as agreed upon with the deceased's family, their defense attorney, Tiawan Gongloe, and the ex leader of the Liberia  Church Consulio, Bishop Kortu

According to a highlight the significance, Dr. Servillano Ritualo also cited other aspects that he found alarming, including his dissatisfaction with the government's need for a license to practice medicine that certifies him as a pathology.

"Despite the fact that a license to practice medicine is updated annually by the nation in which one practices – in this case, the Philippines," Ledgerhood Rennie, Information minister, maintains that he already practiced in Liberia, notably during the Angel Tokpa case.

"The Ministry of Justice notes that its request for a license is in accordance with the standards of the Liberia Dental and Medical Council for the grant of provisional licensure to conduct such medical service in the country," Rennie said.

Dr. Servillano Ritualo's explanation comes six weeks following Justice Minister Dean asked him to produce his credentials and qualifications "as mandated by the Liberia Dental and Medical Association." Liberia has yet to record a single case of the monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox is an incredibly rare disease that is a milder relative of smallpox and is spread via close and continuous contact with an infected, according to specialists. According to the World Health Organization, the virus is endemic to tropical rainforests in central and southwestern Africa, but it is increasingly being seen near metropolitan areas (WHO).

The decision to conduct a second postmortem occurred after George W. Weah, on April 18, asked the Justice minister to assist the grieving family in their efforts to put Ms. Cooper's death to rest.

Princess died of progressive second pulmonary tuberculosis, according to a government-approved coroner's results lunch on April 18 by Drs. Benedict Kolee and his associate, Zoebon B. Kpadeh, who said Princess died mostly of progressing secondary pulmonary tuberculosis.

Princess Cooper, 25, was discovered facial expression in a puddle of blood behind Fawaz building supplies store at the ELWA crossroads, lifeless.

Her family claimed last week that the government was preventing the family's authorized pathology from coming into the country to perform the autopsy; nevertheless, the government denied such claims, claiming that Dr. Ritualo failed to present a copy of his license as asked.

The family claimed that "the govt had found it challenging for them to brought in forensic anatomist," many of whose "have cited government resistance before declining the procedure, leaving people with no choice but to request the body for a befitting burial," according to Dr. Abel Momo, the family's spokesperson.

With that, we've discovered that there are indeed challenges, limits, and inequity in treading the way to justice inside our country, and we can now affirm that the road to fairness will be a rocky one," he remarked.

In a recent press statement, the government restated its position that Ms. Cooper's family should nominate another doctor with the necessary qualifications and skills from anywhere in the globe to conduct the agreed-upon second autopsy.

 "With this new development, Attorney General encourages the Liberia  Churches Council, Civil Society Groups, and worried organizations and individuals to collaborate with and inspire the relatives to designate a new medical examiner as the government remains fully committed to the behaviour of a second necropsy to look them  all accusations and claims about Princess' end, and brought right the stopping of a process or activity to this major object of interest," Min. Rennie said.