4 - Learning From The Dead

Question 1

What are the three types of autopsy completed today?

Answer 1

Medicolegal - On behalf of HM coroner, no consent needed

Forensic - type of coroner post mortem for suspicious deaths

Consent (Hospital) - consent from next of kin, may be limited examination

Question 2

What are the four steps of an autopsy?

Answer 2

- History

- External examination (imaging, injury, natural disease, medical intervention)

- Internal examination (all systems)

- Additional tests

Question 3

What are some additional tests that can be carried out in an autopsy?

Answer 3

• Genetics
• Histology
• Toxicology
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology

Question 4

What are some common causes of sudden death?

Answer 4

• Extradural haemorrhage
• Subdural haemorrhage
• Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
• Stroke
• Coronary thrombosis
• Valvular disease

Question 5

What are the types of specialised autopsies and what can they be used for?

Answer 5

- Neuropathology: trauma, neurodegenerative disease, research

- Paediatric: death in utero, perinatal death, suspicious death, sudden infant death, provide answers for grieving families, safeguarding, teaching and research, patients want to know for ‘next time’

- Forensic: small speciality , more than autopsies

Question 6

When are autopsies required?

Answer 6

• Deceased unknown
• Deceased not been seen by doctor within 14 days of death
• Attending doctor not able to give cause of death
• Death to occupational disease or accident
• Anyone who dies in the care of the state, e.g prison

Question 7

What is the point of using genetic testing for autopsies?

Answer 7

To test for genetic diseases

Question 8

What type of infarct typically occurs in the brain?

Answer 8

• White
• Not red but appears red as liquifactive necrosis leaving a hole that can be filled by blood