Autopsy

Question 1

what are the different types of autopsies?

Answer 1

1. Hospital asutopsies
2. Medico-legal autopsies

Question 2

describe hospital autopsies

Answer 2

10% of all UK autopsies
useful for audit, teaching, governance, research

Question 3

describe medico-legal autopsies

Answer 3

90% of all autopsies in the UK

Question 4

what are coronial autospies

Answer 4

standard autopsies
is a systematic scientific examination that helps the coroner determine who the deceased was, when and where they died and how they came about their death.

Question 5

what are forensic autopsies?

Answer 5

deaths involving crime

Question 6

what are the types of death referred to by coroners?

Answer 6

• presumed natural
• presumed iatrogenic
  -presumed unnatural

Question 7

describe presumed natural death

Answer 7

cause of death not known
not seen by doctor with recent illness (in the last 14 days)

Question 8

describe what presumed iatrogenic deaths involve

Answer 8

-peri/ postoperative deaths
- anaesthetic deaths
-abortion
-complications of therapy

Question 9

describe what presumed unnatural deaths involve

Answer 9

accidents
industrial death
suicide
unlawful killing (murder)
neglect
custody deaths

Question 10

The Coroner’s Act 1988

Answer 10

-Allows coroner to order an autopsy where death is likely due to natural causes to obviate need for inquest.
-Allows coroner to order an autopsy where death is clearly unnatural and inquest will be needed.

Question 11

Coroners Rules 1984

Answer 11

-Autopsy as soon as possible
-By a pathologist of suitable qualification and experience
-Report findings promptly only to coroner
-Autopsy only on appropriate premises

Question 12

Amendment Rules 2005

Answer 12

-Pathologist must tell coroner precisely what materials have been retained
-Coroner authorises retention and sets disposal date
-Coroner informs family of retention
Family has choices;
-Return material to family
-Retain for research/teaching
Respectful disposal
-Coroner informs pathologist of family’s decision
-Pathologist to keep record
-Autopsy report must declare retention and disposal

Question 13

coroners and justice act 2009

Answer 13

-Coroner can now defer opening the inquest and instead launch an investigation
-Enshrines a system of medical examiners
-Little practical change to the pathologist
-Inquests now have conclusions, not verdicts

Question 14

human tissue act 2004

Answer 14

-Autopsies only to be performed on licensed premises
-License holder
-Consent from relatives for any use of tissue retained at autopsy if not subject to coronial legislation or retained for criminal justice purposes
-Public display requires consent from the deceased
-Penalties include up to 3 years of imprisonment and/or a fine for not following the human tissue act