Autopsy Flashcards
1
Q
Define medical autopsy.
A
- in hospital
- need consent from next of kin
- components: external exam, organ exam, histological exam, pathological correlation
2
Q
Summarize reasons for the decline in number of medical autopsies performed.
A
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
3
Q
Summarize benefits of medical autopsies in physicians/medical community, families, and the public.
A
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