Forensic autopsy costs in the city of São Paulo.
BACKGROUND
Modern medical practice involves cost analysis of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. There are no papers dealing with this theme in relation to forensic autopsies in our country.


OBJECTIVE
Analysis of direct costs of forensic autopsies.


METHODS
Cost analysis.


METHODS
São Paulo Medical Examiner's Central Office.


METHODS
Year 2001 activity.


METHODS
Routine forensic autopsies. MEAN MEASUREMENTS: Analysis of direct costs of personnel and material.


RESULTS
Cost of personnel represents 90.38% or US$ 93.46. Material expenses comprised 9.62% or US$ 9.95. Total costs were calculated to be US$ 103.41.


CONCLUSIONS
Forensic autopsies have a high cost. Cases to be autopsied should be judiciously selected. Our results are similar to international studies if data are rearranged based on the number of annual necropsies.
Herbella
Fernando Augusto Mardiros
FA
Instituto Médico Legal of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. hervella.dcir@unifesp.epm.br
Fernandes
Pedro Herbella
PH
Delmonte
Carlos
C
Del Grande
José Carlos
JC
D001344:Autopsy / Q000191:economics*; D001938:Brazil; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans