Autopsy: Medicolegal Considerations, Including Organ Retention and Handling

S. Cordner; H. McKelvie

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800034-2.00036-7

Autopsy: Medicolegal Considerations, Including Organ Retention and Handling

S. Cordner, H. McKelvie

Department of Forensic Medicine

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopaedia / Dictionary Entry › Other › peer-review

Abstract

Although this is a chapter on the medicolegal aspects of the autopsy, the starting point is ethical: The autopsy is a procedure of considerable ethical significance because it interferes with the body. This significance means that the autopsy should not be undertaken for insignificant reasons or purposes. There are substantial potential benefits to the autopsy, within ethical, legal, and resource constraints, and if an autopsy is to be performed, these should be maximized. These are discussed, along with the role of the pathologist: to whom she/he owes a duty, and what is the content of this duty? Managing the mortuary, and issues around the removal and retention of organs and tissues for diagnostic purposes are canvassed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Editors	Jason Payne-James, Roger W. Byard
Publisher	Elsevier
Pages	285-289
Number of pages	5
Volume	4
Edition	2nd
ISBN (Electronic)	9780128000557
ISBN (Print)	9780128000342
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800034-2.00036-7
Publication status	Published - 2016

Keywords

Autopsy
Benefits
Diagnostic purposes
Ethical significance
Importance of
Managing the mortuary
Medicolegal aspects
Pathologist's duties
Purpose of autopsies
Retention of organs and tissues

Access to Document

10.1016/B978-0-12-800034-2.00036-7

Cite this

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abstract = "Although this is a chapter on the medicolegal aspects of the autopsy, the starting point is ethical: The autopsy is a procedure of considerable ethical significance because it interferes with the body. This significance means that the autopsy should not be undertaken for insignificant reasons or purposes. There are substantial potential benefits to the autopsy, within ethical, legal, and resource constraints, and if an autopsy is to be performed, these should be maximized. These are discussed, along with the role of the pathologist: to whom she/he owes a duty, and what is the content of this duty? Managing the mortuary, and issues around the removal and retention of organs and tissues for diagnostic purposes are canvassed.",

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KW - Diagnostic purposes

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KW - Importance of

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Autopsy: Medicolegal Considerations, Including Organ Retention and Handling

Abstract

Keywords

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