IV.        Autopsy Service                                                         List                Main Page

Responsibilities

• Make sure that all paperwork related to autopsy permission is correct.
• Contact the physician for necessary history and special autopsy requests.
• Contact your attending for permission and instruction before autopsy.
• Identify the body and perform the autopsy.
• Reviewing the organs / findings together with attending pathologist.
• Document autopsy findings in writing, dictation and, when appropriate, photography.
• Prepare autopsy report (PAD and final report).
• Prepare for the autopsy conference.
• Make documented attempt(s) to follow up the case (in histology lab).

Three “Cardinal Sins” and One “Misdemeanor”

Three Cardinal Sins

• Perform an autopsy without correct paper work of permission.
• Perform an autopsy on a wrong body.
• Autopsy “overdone” – autopsy without observing the restrictions.

One misdemeanor

       Wrongfully accept an autopsy.

Sequence of actions                                                                         List                Main Page

• Make sure the paper work (permission for autopsy, death certificate) is properly prepared.
• Contact the physician for essential clinical information.
• Ask the clinician about any specific / special issues to address by autopsy.
• Review the chart for clinical history, lab, X-ray, etc.
• Inform your attending about the case, and get the permission, instruction, etc.
• Schedule the autopsy with the PA.  Fill out the autopsy log book.
• Get the    autopsy form   (available in computer and in print in the Morgue).
• Positively identify the body and note the positive identification in writing.
• Perform the autopsy according to the permission and the autopsy manual.
• Ask the attending pathologist to view the organs together with you.
• Sample representative tissues for histology.
• Fill out the autopsy login book.
• Submit the tissue blocks to histology lab.
• Prepare the autopsy report (part I): Clinical Summary and the PAD.
• Submit the autopsy report (i.e. Clinical Summary, PAD, autopsy forms, clinical record and related document) to in a timely fashion.
• Review the typed report with your senior and/or attending.

For Autopsy Conference                                                                 List                Main Page

• Find out when is your autopsy conference (E-mail from Dr. P).
• Rinse the representative organs with tap water.
• Prepare your presentation (clinical summary, questions for autopsy, major findings etc.).
• On the day of conference, arrange the rinsed organs in the tray.
• Present the case concisely with relevant information and findings.
• Note down any specific question requiring follow up.
• Take additional tissue sample for histology if necessary.
• Save representative tissue in formalin container(s) with label.
• Dispose the rest organ/tissue (in a biohazard bag).
• Submit additional tissue for histology.
• Make at least one documented attempt to inquire about the status in histology lab if the slides are not available for 3 working days after submission.
• Review the slides and prepare microscopic description of the final autopsy report.
• Prepare the Final Diagnosis and Final Note according to the histological findings by making correction on the typed PAD.
• Make at least one documented attempt to contact the attending for final report.