Consent is required for an autopsy to be carried out(Patients Act, Section 3D, §32 Autopsy). In principle, registration takes place either with the patient’s consent during his or her lifetime (living will) or with the consent of next of kin. Medical notification of an autopsy is mandatory.
Clients can be: Treating physicians in the hospital, general practitioners, insurers (including SUVA) or the public prosecutor’s office.
The autopsy department of our institute is accredited according to SN EN ISO/IEC 17020: 2012.
Frequently asked questions about autopsy
An autopsy (also known as a post-mortem or dissection) is a thorough external and internal examination of the deceased, similar to a major operation on the living. It is carried out by a specially trained doctor, pathologist or pathologist while respecting the dignity of the deceased person. The corpse is opened so that the internal organs can first be examined with the naked eye. In the next step, small tissue samples are taken from the individual organs, which are later examined and assessed under the microscope. Finally, the body of the deceased is closed again, as in an operation. An autopsy usually takes about two to three hours.
There are several and varied reasons why an autopsy is considered.
From the family’s point of view:
- Determining the cause of death
- Prevention, early detection and treatment of hereditary diseases that may not yet be known
- Clarification of insurance issues in the event of work-related or accident-related illnesses
From the doctors’ point of view:
- Determination of the cause of death and detection of undetected diseases
- Checking the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses made before death
- Assessment of the effect and any side effects of a therapy
- Benefits of the knowledge gained from the autopsy for future patients (prevention, therapy)
An autopsy (both adult and pediatric) usually takes no more than 3-4 hours.
The report is issued after 2 to 6 weeks.
