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[Pediatric autopsy and informed parental consent]
1Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de santé publique, université Paris-V, Paris, France. caroline.rambaud@rpc.aphp.fr
Summary
Pediatricians often lack knowledge about autopsy procedures and parental consent requirements. Most surveyed pediatricians supported organ retention for research and favored informing parents of all possibilities regarding organ use during autopsies.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Medical Ethics
Context:
- French legal terminology defines autopsy as "organs' withholding," creating ambiguity regarding organ examination and retention.
- Child autopsies require informed consent from both parents, yet pathologists often lack knowledge of information provided to parents.
- This disconnect raises ethical concerns about the validity of consent for pediatric autopsies.
Purpose:
- To assess pediatricians' knowledge of autopsy procedures and parental consent in France.
- To investigate pediatricians' views on organ retention and information disclosure to parents during child autopsies.
Summary:
- A questionnaire survey of 891 pediatricians revealed that 57.2% had never attended an autopsy and had poor knowledge of procedures.
- A majority of respondents supported organ retention for research and believed parents should be informed of all organ use possibilities, not just their specific queries.
- Many pediatricians were unaware if organs, particularly the brain, were systematically sampled.
Impact:
- Highlights a significant gap in pediatricians' understanding of autopsy protocols and informed consent.
- Suggests a need for standardized information and consent forms for organ removal, retention, and disposal in pediatric autopsies.
- Recommends improved communication channels, including pre- and post-autopsy interviews with pathologists, to ensure truly informed parental consent.