PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 12411619

Pathologists' views on consent for autopsy.

A T Williams·D Morris·N K Patel
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Consent to autopsy is usually obtained by a doctor other than the one who will perform the procedure. There is an argument that, for proper informed consent, a pathologist should participate. We ascertained the views of consultant pathologists in south-east England. 53 (87%) of 61 consultants responded, of whom 50 currently do autopsies. Only 2 at present participate directly in obtaining consent, and 10 of the remaining 48 expressed willingness to do so. The general view was that consent is best obtained by a senior clinician from the team that has looked after the patient. Pathologists see their primary role as to provide guidance to clinicians. Few see it as their function to obtain consent for autopsy.

Explore related subjects

Attitude of Health PersonnelAutopsyEnglandHumansPathologyProfessional-Family RelationsState MedicineSurveys and QuestionnairesThird-Party ConsentEmpirical ApproachProfessional Patient RelationshipJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A T Williams, D Morris, N K Patel. 2002. Pathologists' views on consent for autopsy.. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107680209501106

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

In the wake of hospital inquiries: impact on staff and safety.

Mishandled concerns about clinical standards resulted in whistleblowing in four Australian hospitals. Official inquiries followed with recommendations to improve patient safety. In the aftermath of the inquiries, common themes included loss of trust in management and among clinical colleagues, and loss of trust from patients and the community. Without first rebuilding trust, staff will not report mistakes or other concerns about safety. Successful implementation of patient safety procedures requires policies to stress the professional duty of staff to report concerns about colleagues when they believe there is a risk to patients.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2007

Retrieving the ars moriendi tradition.

North Atlantic culture lacks a commonly shared view on dying well that helps the dying, their social environment and caregivers to determine their place and role, interpret death and deal with the process of ethical deliberation. What is lacking nowadays, however, has been part of Western culture in medieval times and was known as the ars moriendi (art of dying well) tradition. In this paper an updated version of this tradition is presented that meets the demands of present day secularized and multiform society. Five themes are central to the new art of dying: autonomy and the self, pain control and medical intervention, attachment and relations, life balance and guilt, death and afterlife. The importance of retrieving the ancient ars moriendi outreaches the boundaries of palliative medicine, since it deals with issues that play a central role in every context of medical intervention and treatment.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗