clinical pathology Flashcards
autopsy: list reasons for conducting an autopsy, explain the consent process, and recall cases that must be reported to the Coroner
what is a coroner
judge investigating circumstance of death
when is consent required
hospital autopsy
how is a hospital autopsy different to a regular autopsy
much more thorough (more than to fill in death certificate), examines extent of disease, treatment and effects, requires consent from next of kin to allow any material to be taken (not just that related to cause of death), allows assessment between stated and actual cause of death, allows monitoring effectiveness of new treatments, useful for research
types of death reported to coroner
cause of death is unknown, deceased not seen by doctor after death or within 14 days before death, death was violent, unnatural or suspicious, death may be accidental (whenever it occurred), death due to neglect by oneself or others, death due to an industrial disease or deceased persons employment, death due to abortion, death occurred during an operation or before recovery from effects of anaesthetic, death may be suicide, death occurred during or shortly after detention in police or prison custody, death related to poisoning
