4. Learning From The Dead

Question 1

What are the 3 types of autopsy? When are they performed and is consent needed?

Answer 1

Medicolegal - on behalf of HM coroner, no consent.
Forensic - sub-type of coroner’s post-mortems in suspicious deaths.
Consent (hospital) - consent needed from next of kin, and can limit examination.

Question 2

In what circumstances are coroner’s autopsies a legal requirement?

Answer 2

Deceased unknown
Not seen by a doctor within 14 days of death
Attending doctor unable to give cause of death
Obviously unnatural death
Death related to occupational disease or accident
Death related to medical treatment or procedure

Question 3

What is involved in an autopsy?

Answer 3

History, external exam, internal exam

Question 4

Give 5 types of additional tests that can be undertaken at autopsy, and an example of a test for each

Answer 4

Histology
Toxicology - eg look for recreational drugs
Biochemistry - eg alcoholic ketoacidosis
Microbiology - eg bacteria
Molecular - eg identification of suspect or test for genetic diseases

Question 5

What is a cardiomyopathy?

Answer 5

Non-ischaemic, non-inflammatory disease of the heart muscle

Question 6

What does post-mortem imaging help to reduce?

Answer 6

Need for invasive autopsy

Question 7

When is neuropathology used in autopsies?

Answer 7

Trauma

Neurodegenerative disease

Question 8

When a paediatric autopsies carried out?

Answer 8

Deaths in utero
Perinatal deaths
Death in infancy
Suspicious deaths

Question 9

What do paediatric autopsies involve?

Answer 9

Macroscopic examination
Microscopic examination
Toxicology
Microbiology
Genetic studies