RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Accuracy and validity of determined cause of death and manner of death following forensic autopsy prosection
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP jcp-2023-208876
DO 10.1136/jcp-2023-208876
A1 Shergill, Armaan
A1 Conner, Peter
A1 Wilson, Machelle
A1 Omalu, Bennet
YR 2023
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/early/2023/06/11/jcp-2023-208876.abstract
AB Aims The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and validity of the determination of cause of death (COD) and manner of death (MOD) at the completion of the forensic autopsy prosection.Methods We analysed 952 autopsy cases conducted from 2019 to 2020 and compared every patient’s COD, other significant contributing factors to death (OSC), and MOD after prosection to their COD, OSC and MOD after completion of the final autopsy report.Results We found that 83% of cases (790 patients) did not have an unexpected change and 17% of cases (162 patients) exhibited a true change in their final diagnosis; the relationship between age and changes in COD and MOD was significant.Conclusions Our findings indicate that in the majority of forensic autopsy cases, medical professionals can reasonably complete death certification after the autopsy prosection. In addition to improving the accuracy of COD and MOD, advances in this field will enhance timely decedent affairs management, timely investigations of crimes and timely closure to families who have lost loved ones. We recommend implementing combined interventional education and consultation with expert pathologists, and a well-followed structured method of death classification as the best course of practice.Data are available on reasonable request.