Postmortem

Question 1

Hospital vs Coroner’s Autopsies

Answer 1

Hospital Autopsy

• Carried out at request of clinicians/ NOK
• Requires written permission from NOK to be carried out
• ” “ from NOK to retain organs for diagnosis, teaching, or research purposes
• May be limited/partial

Coroner’s Autopsy

• Legal order from the coroner
• No permission from NOK to be carried out
• No permission from NOK to retain organs for diagnosis
• Permission from NOK to retain organs for teaching or research
• Never limited/partial

Question 2

When is a coroner’s autopsy carried out?

Answer 2

All deaths where cause of death is unknown
1. All drownings
2. All suicides
3. All poisonings
4. All road traffic accidents
5. All deaths in institutions
6. All deaths within 24hrs of hospital admission
7. All deaths within 24hrs of an invasive procedure
8. All deaths where MRSA/ clinical difficile are implicated
9 . All deaths due to notifiable diseases

Question 3

Carrying out an autopsy?

Answer 3

1. Prepare
2. External exam
3. Chest
4. Heart
5. Lungs
6. Abdomen and pelvis
7. Stomach
8. Liver
9. Kidneys, bladder, prostate
10. Brain
11. Microscopy