The Autopsy Flashcards
1
Q
what are the two main categories of autopsy?
A
legal authority and those that are conducted with permission of relatives
2
Q
who has legal authority?
A
the coroner
3
Q
when would a doctor refer deaths to a coroner?
A
violence, abortion, privation or neglect, poison/alcohol, iatrogenic, industrial or unknown
4
Q
why are clinical autopsies performed?
A
when certain aspects of death that occurs in hospital are unknown - may be in specific organ
5
Q
what is the process when a patient dies?
A
confirm death, talk to relatives, complete certificate and cremation forms, contact GP
6
Q
what are the signs to confirm death
A
pupils are fixed and usually dilated, no palpable carotid pulsations, no heart sounds for over 1 minute, unresponsive to painful stimuli
