title: [Public perceptions of hospital autopsies: results of a representative survey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of hospital autopsies has been declining for many years-in Germany as well as in other western countries. One possible reason for this could be the public's negative view of autopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therefore, a representative survey was conducted to study the attitudes of the German population on postmortem examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 84% of respondents generally accept hospital autopsies, while only 10% are in principle opposed to this practice. Many respondents (72%) would agree to the autopsy of their own dead body and 65% to the autopsy of relatives. Altogether, 9% of respondents had already been in a situation where a relative had died in a hospital and they were asked for permission to perform an autopsy. Of these 90, 56% agreed to and 44% refused autopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that the attitudes of the public are surprisingly positive and do not explain declining autopsy rates. Medical and institutional reasons must be considered instead as the possible cause of declining autopsy rates.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Soziologie, Technische Universität Berlin, Franklinstr. 28-29, 10587, Berlin, Deutschland. antje.kahl@tu-berlin.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001344:Autopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011639:Public Opinion; D055815:Young Adult