How well do we communicate autopsy findings to next of kin?

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Elizabeth KeysFrancis H Y Green

Abstract

A failure of communication among families, physicians, and pathologists is recognized as a major cause of declining autopsy rates and may be involved in increased litigation. To determine how effectively autopsy results are communicated to the next of kin and how satisfied families are with the process from consent to relaying of the results. A retrospective telephone survey of next of kin of 106 consecutive patients autopsied at a major teaching hospital. The family was asked questions on the process of obtaining consent and the information they received back from health care providers. Thirty-two percent of relatives indicated that they were not adequately informed as to the purpose of the autopsy. Eighty percent of respondents were notified of or obtained the results. The ways in which the autopsy findings were communicated varied, but 54% were involved in a discussion of the results with a medical professional. More than half of the families wished to have a copy of the results. Two-thirds felt they were satisfied with the explanation of the results, but an important cause of dissatisfaction was the use of unfamiliar medical terminology. When the family's understanding of the cause of death was compared with the diagnoses o...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1977·The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry·Larry A Bugen
Nov 16, 1991·BMJ : British Medical Journal·P WhittyS al-Kharusi
Feb 1, 1990·Annals of Emergency Medicine·T A Schmidt, S W Tolle
Feb 1, 1990·Human Pathology·R E AndersonR B Hill
Feb 1, 1990·Human Pathology·T Kircher
Jan 1, 1988·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·S Limerick
Apr 1, 1986·The American Journal of Medicine·S J McPheeD Crommie
Aug 1, 1968·The American Journal of Psychiatry·P ClaytonG Winokur
Apr 28, 1983·The New England Journal of Medicine·L GoldmanM Weisberg
May 1, 1995·Medical Education·S J SherwoodD Bunce
Apr 1, 1995·BMJ : British Medical Journal·H A Rahman, T Y Khong
Apr 1, 1994·Postgraduate Medical Journal·S A HinchliffeC R Hind
Jul 1, 1997·Journal of Clinical Pathology·S Karunaratne, E W Benbow
May 24, 2000·The Journal of Trauma·G J JurkovichF P Rivara
May 18, 2001·Family Practice·F Oppewal, B Meyboom-de Jong

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 10, 2020·Journal of Clinical Pathology·Massimo RuggeFranco Locatelli
Apr 28, 2009·Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine·John M Wurzel
Aug 6, 2011·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Thomas W LeBlancDavid L Simel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
R James Brenner, Lori Bartholomew
American Journal of Medical Quality : the Official Journal of the American College of Medical Quality
Elizabeth C Burton
Nature Biotechnology
Ann E Mills, Patti Tereskerz
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved