Autopsy consent practice at US teaching hospitals: results of a national survey.
BACKGROUND
Autopsy rates continue to fall despite the enduring benefit of the procedure to families and medical science, yet there are few data about the consent process itself.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the current practice of obtaining autopsy consent, by assessing the consent forms currently in use, the knowledge and attitudes of chief residents on the procedure, and the expert opinion of pathologists in those institutions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-seven US teaching hospitals.


RESULTS
Of all autopsy consent forms we surveyed, 84.7% contained 7 of 10 elements recommended by the College of American Pathologists. Only 7.1% of institutions supplied educational materials for the physician, as recommended by the College of American Pathologists. Overall, 50.1% of chief residents reported deficiencies in their knowledge of the autopsy procedure. Correspondingly, greater than 74.5% felt that educational materials would be beneficial for physicians and the family. Finally, 93.3% of chief residents believed that a limited autopsy should be offered to families, while 68 (90%) of 76 pathologists at these institutions believed that limited autopsies are an unsatisfactory alternative to the complete procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Chief residents at US teaching hospitals reported substantial deficiencies in their knowledge about autopsy and desire more training on the consent process. Autopsy consent forms are often lacking information that might help physicians and families in making an educated choice about autopsy. Teaching institutions need to reevaluate the training for the autopsy consent practice.
Rosenbaum
G E
GE
Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass 02115-5724, USA.
Burns
J
J
Johnson
J
J
Mitchell
C
C
Robinson
M
M
Truog
R D
RD
D001344:Autopsy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D032962:Consent Forms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States