Learning From The Dead

Question 1

What is a medico-legal autopsy?

Answer 1

Performed on behalf of HM Coroner

No consent required

Question 2

What is a forensic autopsy?

Answer 2

Sub-type of Coroner’s post-mortem for suspicious deaths

Question 3

What is a consent autopsy?

Answer 3

Consent is given by next of kin for someone who died in a hospital. Examination may be limited.

Question 4

What is involved in an autopsy?

Answer 4

History, external examination (natural disease, injury, medical intervention), internal examination (all systems but sometimes limited) and additional testing (histology, toxicology, biochemistry, microbiology and genetics)

Question 5

When might a neuropathological autopsy be done?

Answer 5

• Trauma
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Research e.g. CJD

Question 6

What are paediatric autopsies used for?

Answer 6

• Deaths in utero
• Perinatal deaths
• Sudden infant death
• Suspicious deaths

Question 7

What important issues are raised by paediatric autopsies?

Answer 7

Challenging emotionally and technically but it is vital in providing answers for grieving families and medical staff. Involves medicolegal and safeguarding issues.

Question 8

When is a coroners autopsy required legally?

Answer 8

• Deceased is unknown
• Deceased not seen by a doctor within 14 days of death
• Attending doctor not able to give cause of death
• Obviously unnatural death (murder/suicide/accident)
• Death related to occupational disease or accident
• Death related to medical treatment or procedure
• Those under care of state e.g. prison

Question 9

Describe the importance of post-mortem imaging

Answer 9

Reduces the need for invasive autopsy, already used in forensic cases.