The operators of Rockingham General Hospital do not believe claims a man may have been sent to the morgue while he was still alive are true.

Hospital bosses will investigate whether death certificate procedures and protocols were followed after the death of Kevin Reid, 55, early last month but not if he was alive when placed in a body bag and taken to the morgue.

South Metropolitan Health Service chief executive Paul Forden says the hospital will launch an investigation into why the death of Reid was dated September 6 on paperwork – the day after he was considered deceased by medical staff.

Tap PLAY to hear Forden address the claims

Forden was responding to claims made by a doctor to the Coroner’s Office, reported on Thursday by WA Business News, that he found Reid inside the body bag on September 6 with limbs in positions different to how he had been left, a tear on his arm that had been bleeding and his eyes open despite them being closed before he was taken to the morgue.

#EXCLUSIVE: An investigation is underway following claims that a man was placed in a body bag while still alive in a WA morgue.

MORE: https://t.co/GPzaFthma0@JackHahn9News #9News pic.twitter.com/Su5T10hhN8

— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) October 6, 2022