Learning From The Dead

Question 1

State the 2 components of history of dissection

Answer 1

Early Human dissection

Medical education

Question 2

Compare the 3 types of autopsy

Answer 2

1. Coroners (Medicolegal): Performed on behalf of coroner, no consent needed
2. Forensic: Subtype of coroner’s autopsy, suspicious deaths
3. Hospital (Consent): Consent from next of skin, examination may be limited

Question 3

Give 7 occasions when a Coroner’s requirement is needed

Answer 3

• Legal requirement
• Deceased unknown
• Deceased not seen by doctor within 14 days of death
• Attending doctor unable to give cause of death
• Obviously unnatural cause of death
• Death related to occupational disease/ accident
• Death related to medical treatment/ procedure

Question 4

What are 4 steps of an autopsy

Answer 4

History
External Examination
Internal Examination
Additional tests

Question 5

In Coroner’s cases, how is the history affected

Answer 5

Often limited

Question 6

Compare Internal and External examination

Answer 6

External:

• To ascertain injury, natural disease, medical intervention
• Sometimes uses imaging

Internal:

• All systems examined usually
• Examination Sometimes limited in consensual cases

Question 7

What additional tests can be used

Answer 7

Histology 
Toxicology 
Biochemistry 
Microbiology 
Genetics

Question 8

Describe the following additional tests

Histology
Microbiology
Genetics

Answer 8

Histology: to make/ confirm a diagnosis
Microbiology: Bacteria, viruses, fungi
Genetics: DNA fingerprinting

Question 9

Describe the following additional tests

Toxicology
Biochemistry

Answer 9

Toxicology: Blood, urine, bile, therapeutic and recreational drugs

Biochemistry: Diabetic/ alcoholic ketoacidosis, renal failure

Question 10

Name 6 common causes of sudden death

Answer 10

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