2. Lessons from the autopsy

autopsy

examination of a body after death to determine cause of death

post mortem

done, occurring or collected after death

coroner’s post mortem

• undertaken at the request of the coroner to find out how somebody died- includes possible murder

• family informed but do not need consent

• traditionally full but increasingly limited with use of CTPM

• common

• family request copy of PM report

consent/hospital PM

• undertaken at the request of doctors/relatives to learn more about disease processes/ symptoms during life

• cause of death is already known before starting PM

• every part of the autopsy needs consent

• can be full or limited or non-invasive

• rare

• family offered meeting to receive results and copy of PM report

when does a coroner have a duty to investigate

• if coroner is made aware a body is in their area AND there is reason to suspect:

  • violent/unnatural death

  • cause of death unkown

  • dece

examples of violent/ unnatural deaths

• due to medical/ surgical intervention

• due to delay in surgical/ medical intervention

• drugs

• alcohol

• suicide

• after a fall

• after a car crash

• due to neglect

• related to occupation

HTA- human tissue authority

• regulate organisations that remove, store and use human tissue for research, medical treatment, post-mortem, examination, education and training and display in public

• also give approval for organ and bone marrow donations from living people

who can consent to a post mortem

• deceased’s wishes if known

• nominated representative if appointed

• qualifying relationships:

  • spouse or partner

  • parent or child

  • brother or sister

  • grandparent or grandchild

  • niece or nephew

  • stepfather or stepmother

  • half brother or half sister

  • friend of longstanding

what makes consent valid

• given voluntarily by an appropriately informed person who has the capacity to agree

benefits of post mortems for society

• document accurate data about the health of the population

• notification of communicable diseases

• provide evidence in murder cases

benefits of post mortems for the medical profession

• education

• to identify adverse effects of new treatments

benefits of post mortems for relatives

• to explain what happened to their loved one and aid grieving process

• genetic testing

• provide evidence for legal proceedings in occupational deaths and aid in compensation claims