Autopsy: role of the family physician

The rate of autopsy in the United States has declined from about 50 percent in the 1940s to less than 15 percent today. Although many clinicians feel that modern technology has made postmortem examinations obsolete, autopsies are still important for ensuring quality, assessing new technology and providing new medical information. The primary care physician is responsible for requesting autopsies when appropriate and for informing family members of the findings. Conducting a family conference is an effective method of reviewing autopsy results.