Autopsy

Question 1

Define medical autopsy.

Answer 1

• in hospital
• need consent from next of kin
• components: external exam, organ exam, histological exam, pathological correlation

Question 2

Summarize reasons for the decline in number of medical autopsies performed.

Answer 2

CLINICIANS

• declines in requests
• more confident diagnostic techniques
• discomfort with requesting from grieving families
• culture of medicine that does not dwell on failures
• fear of malpractice
• more patients dying outside of hospital

FAMILY

• not informed
• fear of charge ($)
• delays in funeral
• worried about disfigurement

PATHOLOGISTS

• increased demands
• dominated by surgical specimens
• greater focus on research

Question 3

Summarize benefits of medical autopsies in physicians/medical community, families, and the public.

Answer 3

CLINICIANS

• establish final diagnoses
• evaluate accuracy of treatment
• determine cause of death
• quality assurance

FAMILIES

• identification of hereditary and congenital diseases
• put mind at ease if they feel at fault
• accurate data for worker’s comp
• contribute to medical advancement

PUBLIC
- health surveillance