[The high autopsy rate in Vienna].

Area of Science:

• Forensic Pathology
• Medical Statistics

Background:

• In 1983, 34% of deaths in Austria underwent autopsy.
• Examined autopsy frequency in Vienna (1983-1987) due to high national rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze autopsy rates in Vienna's pathology institutes and legal medicine department.
• To understand factors contributing to high autopsy frequency.
• To highlight the importance of autopsies for diagnostic accuracy and public health.

Main Methods:

• Data collection on autopsy rates from 9 pathology institutes and the University of Vienna's legal medicine department.
• Statistical analysis of annual autopsy frequencies.
• Review of legal and administrative factors influencing autopsy rates.

Main Results:

• Average annual autopsy rate in Vienna was 51-53% between 1983-1987.
• A slight, statistically significant decline in autopsy rates was observed in 1987.
• Autopsies revealed inaccuracies or incompleteness in 15% of diagnoses.
• Austrian law allows autopsies without next-of-kin consent for medical/scientific reasons.
• The coroner often chairs pathology departments, facilitating autopsies.

Conclusions:

• High autopsy rates are crucial for maintaining diagnostic accuracy in medicine.
• Autopsies provide essential data for accurate mortality/morbidity statistics and public health planning.
• Medical students gain unique insights into disease patterns through autopsies.
• Vienna's pathology departments are implementing a new computer system for diagnostic files to support research.