Conclusion
Three weeks after Mahsa (Zhina) Amini’s death, Iran’s Medical Forensic Organization, published its pathology tests claiming that “her death has not been caused by blows to the head or any other vital organs of the body.”
Forensic office’s statement claims, “Based on hospital medical documents, the investigation of Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the brain and lungs, the results of the physical examination of the body and autopsy, and the pathology tests, Mahsa’s death was not caused by strikes to the head or the vital organs of the body.”
The forensic added that due to the “underlying illness” of Mahsa Amini, “she did not have the necessary ability to withstand and adapt to the situation, therefore, under the circumstance, she suffered from a heart rhythm disorder and a drop in blood pressure, and subsequently, a decrease in the level of consciousness, which due to the ineffective cardio-respiratory resuscitation in the first critical minutes, let to her suffering a severe hypoxia resulting in brain damage.”
In its statement, this governmental body claimed that “despite the return of cardiac function following the resuscitation of the emergency personnel, the respiratory support did not work” and despite being transferred to the hospital “she passes away on September 16 due to multi-organ failure (M.O.F) caused by cerebral hypoxia.”
In response to this statement, Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer for the Amini’s family, told the media that the medical examiner’s claim that Mahsa Amini’s death was caused by a glandular surgery that was performed on her when she was eight is baseless, because the same surgeon who performed the surgery has said it cannot be the cause of her death. Other neurologists have refuted the Medical Forensic Organization’s claim as well.
Mr. Nikbakht also called Mahsa Amini’s “instant death” and the attempt to link it with “her childhood surgery or taking thyroid pills” nonsense and said how is it possible that Mahsa Amini, who “has not had any physical issues for 15 years, after being taken into custody by the Morality Police and spending an hour and a half at their headquarters, suddenly has a stroke, heart, and kidney failure and loses ninety-eight percent of her vital signs.”
According to the lawyer of the Amini’s family, Mahsa Amini’s case “is in the investigation stage and has not yet been filed with the court.”
The heads of branches of Iran’s medical association, which is the highest professional and legal body for medical doctors in this country, have demanded a “clear pronouncement” of the cause of Mahsa Amini’s death in an open letter, and at the same time, they have asked for an end to the violence against the protesters and for doctors to be allowed unfettered access to the injured in the protests.
These protests, besides the bloody consequences they had for the protesters, also exacted a heavy toll on the human rights violators as well. It also led to the unprecedented action of the United Nations Human Rights Council against Iran.