title: Talking to the family after an autopsy.
abstract: Few physicians have opportunities that can match the pathologist's to bring compassion and understanding to the bereaved by means of the postautopsy consultation with families. The emotional responses of survivors are often dominated by guilt. Practical guidelines for talking to the bereaved consist of the honesty , compassion, and common sense of the pathologist.
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family; D006117:Grief; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans