Autopsy

Question 1

What are the 2 types of autopsy in the UK and what are they for?

Answer 1

Hospital autopsy

• <10% of UK autopsies
• For teaching, research and governance
• Requires death certificate

Medico-legal autopsy

• > 90% of UK autopsies
• Coronial = death not due to unlawful action
• Forensic = death suspected to be unlawful e.g. murder

Question 2

What are the 4 questions for to coroner to answer?

Answer 2

1. Who was the deceased?
2. When did they die?
3. Where did they die?
4. How did their death come about?

Question 3

Why are deaths referred to the coroner? Give examples

Answer 3

1. Presumed natural (most common) but C.O.D. not known/not seen doctor within 14 days prior to death
2. Presumed iatrogenic e.g. peri/post op, anaesthetic or therapy complications, illegal abortions
3. Presumed unnatural e.g accident, neglect, suicide, industrial or custody death, unlawful killing

Question 4

Who can refer for autopsies?

Answer 4

Any interested party but usually in order: doctors, registrar of births, deaths & marriages, police, relatives, etc

Question 5

Who performs autopsies?

Answer 5

• Histopathologist - Hospital autopsies and most coronial autopsies
• Forensic pathologist - Coronial autopsies where the cause is likely to be due to 3rd party action

Question 6

What are the steps in the autopsy process?

Answer 6

1. History/scene
2. External examination - ID body, disease, treatment, injuries
3. Evisceration
4. Internal examination
5. Reconstruction