title: The medical autopsy as quality assurance tool in clinical medicine: dreams and realities.
abstract: The purpose of medical autopsy has changed to issues of quality assurance today. In addition, autopsies are considered valuable in medical education, e.g., delivering cases for problem-based learning for students. Many studies underscore the need for autopsies also in the era of technical progress emphasizing the continuing discrepancies between antemortem and post mortem diagnoses. Despite these important tasks, we face a decline of autopsy for several reasons with complex interactions. The role of all persons involved in this decline is evaluated and suggestions for changes are proposed. Last but not least, the future of the autopsy is in the hands of pathology itself.
authors: Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, H4-312, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.vandentweel@umcutrecht.nl.
authors: Jan G
authors: JG
authors: van den Tweel
authors: Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Wittekind
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Autopsy; Future; History; Quality tool