autopsy stuff Flashcards
what two categories do most autopsies fall under in most countries?
those performed under instruction of a legal authority
those performed with permission from deceased’s relatives to gather info on the nature and extent of the deceased’s disease
why are medico-legal autopsies performed?
to determine the cause of death and to collect evidence to use in prosecution of those responsible for the death
when are clinical autopsies performed?
on patients who die in hospital
why are clinical autopsies performed?
certified cause of death given by clinicians with primary responsibility for the patient shows a 30% discrepancy with cause found at autopsy
how can clinical autopsy be useful?
more accurate data about cause of death: clinical audit, education of clinicians and national allocation of health resources, determining extent of disease and response to treatment
what is an advantage of clinical autopsy?
simple and cost-effective compared to modern methods of in-vivo imaging
what is happening to the rate of hospital autopsies?
declining
what is the prevalence of types of autopsy in the UK?
hospital - less than 10%
medico-legal - more than 90%
when are deaths ‘presumed natural’?
cause of death not known
not seen by doctor in last illness (within 14 days)
when are deaths ‘presumed iatrogenic’?
peri/postoperative deaths
anaesthetic deaths
abortion
complications of therapy
when are deaths ‘presumed unnatural’?
accidents industrial death suicide unlawful killing neglect custody deaths war/industrial pensions
doctors and referrals for autopsy
have no statutory duty to refer
common law duty
GMC guidance
registrar of BDM and referrals for autopsy
have a statutory duty to refer
where do referrals for autopsy come from, other than doctors and registrars of BDM?
relatives
police
anatomical pathology technicians
other properly interested parties
what types of pathologists perform autopsies?
histopathologists and forensic pathologists
what types of autopsies do histopathologists perform?
hospital and coronial autopsies
when do histopathologists perform coronial autopsies?
natural deaths drowning suicide accidents road traffic deaths fire deaths industrial deaths peri/postoperative deaths
what types of autopsies do forensic pathologists perform?
coronial autopsies
when do forensic pathologists perform coronial autopsies?
homicide
death in custody
neglect
these if they may be due to action of a third party: drowning, suicide, accidents, road traffic deaths, fire deaths, industrial deaths, peri/postoperative deaths
what is the role of the coronial autopsy?
to answer:
who was the deceased?
when did they die?
where did they die?
how did they come about their death?
what year was the coroner’s act established?
1988
what is S19 of the Coroners Act (1988)?
allows coroner to order an autopsy where death is likely due to natural causes to obviate need for inquest. no power to authorise special investigations
what is S20 of the Coroners Act (1988)?
allows coroner to order an autopsy where death is clearly unnatural and inquest will be needed. can authorise special investigations
when were the Coroners Rules established?
1984
