AIT Consular Section Chief Lara K. Harris Calls on IFM Director General Tu, Thanks IFM for Assistance to U.S. Citizens in Taiwan

Ms. Lara K. Harris, consular section chief of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and AIT Deputy Consular Section Chief Travis M. Sevy called on Tu Da-Ren, director general of the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM), at 11:00 on January 17, 2019 and expressed their gratitude for IFM’s assistance to U.S. citizens in Taiwan in performing autopsies to identify the cause of death at the request of various district prosecutors offices.

In replying to Ms. Harris’ question whether Taiwan has a mechanism similar to the one in the United States, which allows concerned parties to apply for autopsies to identify the cause of death at their own expense, Director General Tu said that according to the criminal justice system in Taiwan, the IFM shall perform an autopsy to identify the cause of death at prosecutor’s request, so there is no mechanism for a concerned party to apply for an autopsy at his or her own expense. If a concerned party has doubt about the cause of death, he or she can raise his or her concerns to a prosecutor, who may then request an autopsy by the IFM. Mr. Sevy promised to help U.S. citizens in Taiwan better understand the judicial system in Taiwan through publicity. Ms. Harris also demonstrated an interest in the DNA Storeroom, which the IFM has established after drawing on the experience of the U.S. Innocence Project. She expressed her admiration for Taiwan’s effort to increase resources for the protection of human rights by the judiciary.  

Director General Tu expressed his gratitude for the opportunities the United States had provided for Taiwanese forensic pathologists to receive forensic science training in major forensic centers around the United States, so that they can advance their proficiency in forensic autopsy to the level of developed countries and ensure the protection of human rights by the judiciary. He hoped that the AIT will continue providing assistance to the IFM-nominated pathologists when they go to the United States to receive forensic training. Some units of forensic science in Taiwan, including the IFM, have sent their staff to the annual meetings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) held in U.S. cities. As their participation in such meetings can improve Taiwan’s professional capacity and promote international exchanges, Ms. Harris assured Director General Tu that the AIT will give its full support to facilitate the exchange of experience between forensic pathologists and relevant professionals in Taiwan and the United States. The cordial meeting between Ms. Harris and Director General Tu ended after an exchange of gifts.​