title: The Decline of the Autopsy in Rhode Island and Nationwide: Past Trends and Future Directions.
abstract: The autopsy has long been a fundamental aspect of medical practice and research. However, in the last 50 years, the proportion of deaths for which an autopsy is performed has decreased dramatically. Here we examine some of the reasons for the decline of the autopsy, as well as several interventions that have been proposed to revive it. We also present autopsy utilization data from the Lifespan system, which mirrors nationwide trends. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-10.asp].
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University; PGY-1, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: Pathologist-in-Chief at Rhode Island and The Miriam Hospitals, Providence, RI; Professor of Pathology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anthony
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012237:Rhode Island; D014481:United States
keywords: autopsy; medical education; pathology