autopsy
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Autopsy
Definition
An autopsy is a postmortem assessment or examination of a body to determine the cause of death. An autopsy is performed by a physician trained in pathology.
Purpose
Most autopsies advance medical knowledge and provide evidence for legal action. Medically, autopsies determine the exact cause and circumstances of death, discover the pathway of a disease, and provide valuable information to be used in the care of the living. When foul play is suspected, a government coroner or medical examiner performs autopsies for legal use. This branch of medical study is called forensic medicine. Forensic specialists investigate deaths resulting from violence or occurring under suspicious circumstances.
Benefits of research from autopsies include the production of new medical information on diseases such as toxic shock syndrome, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Organ donation, which can potentially save the lives of other patients, is also another benefit of autopsies.
Key terms
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) — A group of diseases resulting from infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A person infected with HIV gradually loses immune function, becoming less able to resist aliments and cancers, resulting in eventual death.
Computed tomography scan (CT scan) — The technique used in diagnostic studies of internal bodily structures in the detection of tumors or brain aneurysms. This diagnostic test consists of a computer analysis of a series of cross-sectional scans made along a single axis of a bodily structure or tissue that is used to construct a three-dimensional image of that structure
Creutzfeld-Jakob disease — A rare, often fatal disease of the brain, characterized by gradual dementia and loss of muscle control that occurs most often in middle age and is caused by a slow virus.
Hepatitis — Inflammation of the liver, caused by infectious or toxic agents and characterized by jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — A diagnostic tool that utilizes nuclear magnetic energy in the production of images of specific atoms and molecular structures in solids, especially human cells, tissues, and organs.
Postmortem — After death.
Precautions
When performed for medical reasons, autopsies require formal permission from family members or the legal guardian. (Autopsies required for legal reasons when foul play is suspected do not need the consent of next of kin.) During the autopsy, very concise notes and documentation must be made for both medical and legal reasons. Some religious groups prohibit autopsies.
Description
An autopsy can be described as the examination of a deceased human body with a detailed exam of the person's remains. This procedure dates back to the Roman era when few human dissections were performed; autopsies were utilized, however, to determine the cause of death in criminal cases. At the beginning of the procedure the exterior body is examined and then the internal organs are removed and studied. Some pathologists argue that more autopsies are performed than necessary. However, recent studies show that autopsies can detect major findings about a person's condition that were not suspected when the person was alive. And the growing awareness of the influence of genetic factors in disease has also emphasized the importance of autopsies.
Despite the usefulness of autopsies, fewer autopsies have been performed in the United States during the past 10-20 years. A possible reason for this decline is concern about malpractice suits on the part of the treating physician. Other possible reasons are that hospitals are performing fewer autopsies because of the expense or because modern technology, such as CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging, can often provide sufficient diagnostic information. Nonetheless, federal regulators and pathology groups have begun to establish new guidelines designed to increase the number and quality of autopsies being performed.
Many experts are concerned that if the number of autopsies increases, hospitals may be forced to charge families a fee for the procedure as autopies are not normally covered by insurance companies or Medicare. Yet, according to several pathologists, the benefit of the procedure for families and doctors does justify the cost. In medical autopsies, physicians remain cautious to examine only as much of the body as permitted according to the wishes of the family. It is important to note that autopsies can also provide peace of mind for the bereaved family in certain situations.
Preparation
If a medical autopsy is being performed, written permission is secured from the family of the deceased??
Aftercare
Once the autopsy has been completed, the body is prepared for final arrangements according to the family's wishes??
Risks
There are some risks of disease transmission from the deceased. In fact, some physicans may refuse to do autopsies on specific patients because of a fear of contracting diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, or Creutzfeld-Jakob disease.
Normal results
In most situations the cause of death is determined from the procedure of an autopsy without any transmission of disease.
Abnormal results
Abnormal results would include inconclusive results from the autopsy and transmission of infectious disease during the autopsy.
Resources
Organizations
American Medical Association. 515 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60612. (312) 464-5000. http://www.amaassn.org.
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
autopsy
[aw´top-se]examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death; it may be ordered by a coroner or medical examiner when the cause of death is unknown or the death has taken place under suspicious circumstances. Autopsies are also valuable sources of medical knowledge. Unless it is demanded by public authorities, an autopsy cannot be performed without permission of the next of kin of the deceased. Called also postmortem examination and necropsy.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
au·top·sy
(aw'top-sē), Avoid the mispronunciation autop'sy.1. An examination of the organs of a dead body to determine the cause of death or to study the pathologic changes present. Synonym(s): necropsy
2. In the terminology of the ancient Greek school of empirics, the intentional reproduction of an effect, event, or circumstance that occurred in the course of a disease, and observation of its influence in ameliorating or aggravating the patient's symptoms.
Synonym(s): postmortem examination
[G. autopsia, seeing with one's own eyes]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
autopsy
(ô′tŏp′sē, ô′təp-)n. pl. autop·sies
Examination of a cadaver to determine or confirm the cause of death. Also called necropsy, postmortem, postmortem examination.
tr.v. autop·sied, autop·sying, autop·sies
To subject to an autopsy.
au·top′sic, au·top′si·cal adj.
au′top′sist n.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
autopsy
A postmortem examination of a body, which helps determine cause of death and identify any diseases that had not been detected while the patient was alive, or which confirms the presence of conditions diagnosed before the patient died.Autopsy types
• Biopsy only—A minimalist postmortem examination in which the prosector examines the organs, but only samples small fragments (biopsies) for histologic examination.
• Chest only—An autopsy in which only the lungs and heart are examined; findings in a chest only autopsy are used to ID an occluding thrombus in the coronary arteries, massive patientE, or evaluate a person for compensation under the Black Lung Compensation act of 1969.
• Complete—An autopsy in which the thoracic, abdominal and cranial cavities are examined.
• Head only—An autopsy in which the pathology of interest is presumed to reside entirely in the cranial cavity.
• No head—An autopsy examining the chest and abdominal cavity without cranial cavity.
Infections (potentially fatal) that may pass to prosectors
Blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, diphtheria, erysipeloid, HBV (30% of seroconversion with infected blood exposure), HCV (up to 10% risk), HIV (0.3% risk), lymphocytic choriomeningitis, rabies, streptococci, TB (exposures as brief as 10 minutes have resulted in transmission; 10% of Finnish pathologists in active PM practice have occupational TB; autopsy-transmitted outbreaks of TB have occurred in NY, LA, Chicago and Arkansas), tularaemia, viral haemorrhagic fevers (Marburg, Ebola, Lassa), yellow fever. Two cases of possible transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease to histology technicians (not autopsy prosectors) have been reported.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
autopsy
Postmortem examination, necropsy Pathology A post-mortem examination of a body, which helps determine cause of death and identify any diseases that had not been detected while the Pt was alive, or confirms the presence of conditions that had been diagnosed before the Pt died. See Forensic autopsy, Hospital autopsy, Organ-limited autopsy. Cf Psychologic autopsy.Autopsy types
- Biopsy only
- A minimalist post-mortem in which the prosector examines the organs, but only samples small fragments–'biopsies' for histologic examination
- Chest only
- An autopsy in which only the lungs and heart are examined; findings in a 'chest only' autopsy is to ID an occluding thrombus in the coronary arteries, massive PTE, or evaluate a person for compensation under the Black Lung Compensation act of 1969
- Complete
- An autopsy in which the thoracic, abdominal, and cranial cavities are examined
- Head only
- An autopsy in which the pathology of interest is presumed to reside entirely in the cranial cavity
- No head
- An autopsy examining the chest and abdominal cavity without cranial cavity
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
au·top·sy
(aw'top-sē)An examination of a corpse and the organs of a dead body to determine the cause of death or to study the pathologic changes present. (Colloquially called postmortem or post.)
Synonym(s): necropsy.
Synonym(s): necropsy.
[G. autopsia, seeing with one's own eyes]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
autopsy
A postmortem pathological examination done to determine the cause of death or past medical history or to assist in medical research. The term derives from two Greek roots meaning ‘seeing for oneself’.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
au·top·sy
(aw'top-sē) Avoid the mispronunciation autop'sy.Examination of the organs of a cadaver to determine the cause of death or to study the pathologic changes present.
[G. autopsia, seeing with one's own eyes]
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012