Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Who asks permission for an autopsy?

J Chana¹, R Rhys-Maitland, P Hon

¹Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.

Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London

|July 1, 1990

Summary

Autopsy permission processes vary significantly across hospitals, often delegated to untrained junior doctors. Training staff and using sensitive lay personnel can improve autopsy consent rates, addressing declining autopsy trends.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Dose-response of intrathecal morphine when administered with intravenous ketorolac for post-cesarean analgesia: a two-center, prospective, randomized, blinded trial.

International journal of obstetric anesthesia·2016

Same author

Onchocerciasis control in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): challenges in a post-war environment.

Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH·2014

Same author

An in vitro investigation of the cardiovascular effects of the 5-HT(4) receptor selective agonists, velusetrag and TD-8954.

Vascular pharmacology·2012

Same author

Identification and evaluation of a potent novel ATR inhibitor, NU6027, in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines.

British journal of cancer·2011

Same author

SIMS(DAIRY): a modelling framework to identify sustainable dairy farms in the UK. Framework description and test for organic systems and N fertiliser optimisation.

The Science of the total environment·2011

Same author

Cost effectiveness of nitrate leaching mitigation measures for grassland livestock systems at locations in England and Wales.

The Science of the total environment·2011

Area of Science:

Medical research
Pathology
Hospital administration

Background:

Autopsy rates have been declining.
Understanding the process of obtaining consent for autopsies is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate methods of obtaining autopsy permission in hospitals.
To explore reasons behind the decline in autopsy rates.

Main Methods:

Survey of hospitals with over 400 beds in the North East Thames Region.
Interviews with hospital consultants and analysis of autopsy consent procedures.

Main Results:

Significant variation in autopsy rates and consent systems across hospitals.
Autopsy consent requests are frequently delegated to untrained junior doctors.

Related Experiment Videos

Trained, sensitive lay personnel can achieve higher consent rates.

Consultants reported requesting fewer autopsies over time.

Pathologists have reduced pre-autopsy clinician contact.

Conclusions:

Current autopsy consent procedures are inconsistent and often lack adequate training.
There is a need for improved training and potentially different personnel for obtaining autopsy consent.
Declining autopsy rates may be linked to changes in clinical practice and communication between clinicians and pathologists.