A survey of general practitioners' views on autopsy reports.
OBJECTIVE
To study the views of general practitioners on the quality and utility of autopsy reports, and on autopsies in general.


METHODS
For a period of six months, a questionnaire was enclosed with each autopsy report sent to a general practitioner from the mortuary at Manchester Royal Infirmary.


RESULTS
Most (93.3%) general practitioners found the autopsy report useful, and many (66.7%) thought the bereaved relatives would do so too. However, only a minority (25.2%) would discuss the report with the relatives. A considerable proportion (20.0%) found the cause of death surprising, and a significant number (10.4%) felt the report would modify their future clinical practice. There was approval of autopsies in general, with most (88.6%) agreeing that autopsies reveal lesions not detected in life, and many (74.4%) indicating that loss of the autopsy would impair severely the monitoring of clinical standards.


CONCLUSIONS
General practitioners appreciate autopsy reports, which may have a significant impact on clinical practice. Autopsy reports provide both case audit and information for relatives.
Karunaratne
S
S
Department of Pathological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
Benbow
E W
EW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001344:Autopsy / Q000592:standards*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003142:Communication; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires