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Set up, structure and best practice standards for a perinatal autopsy service: the Australian experience
Lynette Moore1, Jacquelene M Collett2, Bligh Berry3
1Anatomical Pathology, SA Pathology, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia; School of Medicine, Adelaide University, SA, Australia.
Insights
High-quality perinatal autopsy services are vital for understanding stillbirth and neonatal death causes, guiding future pregnancies, and improving public health. Investing in standards, training, and access ensures these critical benefits are realized.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal pathology
- Public health
- Medical services research
Background:
- Perinatal autopsy services are crucial for determining causes of stillbirth and neonatal death.
- These services inform future pregnancy care and contribute to vital public health data.
- Effective perinatal autopsy services require integration of pathology and clinical care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review practical considerations for establishing and maintaining high-quality perinatal autopsy services.
- To highlight key elements for successful service implementation and sustainability.
- To discuss current challenges within the Australian healthcare system.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of best practices in perinatal autopsy services.
- Analysis of essential components including infrastructure, governance, and funding.
- Examination of workforce needs, standardized reporting, and consent processes.
Main Results:
- Key elements for high-quality services include robust infrastructure, clear governance, and sustainable funding.
- A skilled multidisciplinary team is essential for effective service delivery.
- Standardized reporting, culturally sensitive consent, and clinician education are critical.
Conclusions:
- Investment in quality standards, workforce training, and equitable access is necessary.
- Addressing current challenges is vital for optimizing perinatal autopsy services in Australia.
- Well-structured services significantly benefit families, healthcare providers, and public health outcomes.
Abstract:
Perinatal autopsy services provide critical information to help families understand the cause of a stillbirth or neonatal death, inform future pregnancy care, and contribute to public health data. A well-structured perinatal autopsy service integrates pathology with clinical care, supporting families, healthcare providers, and public health outcomes. Investment in good-quality practice standards, workforce training, and equitable access is essential to realise these benefits. This review discusses the practical considerations for establishing and sustaining a high-quality perinatal autopsy service. Key elements include infrastructure, governance, sustainable funding and the role of a skilled multi-disciplinary team. The importance of standardised reporting using a minimum dataset, culturally sensitive consent processes, and continuing education for referring clinicians is highlighted. Current challenges within the Australian context are discussed.
