BMJ  2003;327:802-803 (4 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7418.802

Education and debate

Death of the teaching autopsy

¹ New Zealand Medical Students' Association, 55a Rugby Street, Mount Cook, Wellington, New Zealand gog@xtra.co.nz

Curriculum pressures and a decline in hospital autopsy rates have reduced the opportunity for medical students to learn from autopsy findings

The use of autopsies to teach medical students has been falling worldwide over the past few decades. In 2002, however, Auckland, New Zealand, took the unprecedented step of legally prohibiting students from attending autopsy teaching, by barring them access to coronial autopsies. The decision means that students are denied a highly effective and popular learning resource and the autopsy is likely to decline further in clinical practice. The ultimate losers will be patients. This article examines the evidence supporting the relevance of autopsy in medical education and practice.

Until recently, learning from autopsy was vibrant in Auckland. Many medical students from third year and above voluntarily attended daily autopsy teaching, and were enthusiastic about this method of learning. However, in early 2002, students were banned from attending coronial autopsies under an interpretation of New Zealand's Coroners Act. The decision was made in the environment following widespread media coverage of the . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bates, C, Burgess, H (2004). A case for autopsy in palliative medicine?. Palliat Med 18: 652-653  
• McDermott, M (2004). The continuing decline of autopsies in clinical trials: is there any way back?. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 89: F198-F199 [Full text]  
• Hurwitz, B. S, Beaumont, B. (2004). Death of the teaching autopsy: Autopsy findings are important to all clinicians, including general practitioners. BMJ 328: 165-165 [Full text]  
• Beh, P. S L (2004). Death of the teaching autopsy: In Hong Kong teaching autopsies have been championed in public mortuaries. BMJ 328: 166-166 [Full text]  
• Alcolado, J. C (2004). Death of the teaching autopsy: Hospital and coroners' postmortem examinations are different, not least in payment. BMJ 328: 165-165 [Full text]  
• Fruhbeck, G. (2004). Death of the teaching autopsy: Advances in technology have not reduced the value of the autopsy. BMJ 328: 165-166 [Full text]  
• Espinosa-Brito, A., Viera-Yaniz, J., Chavez-Troya, O., Nieto-Cabrera, R. (2004). Death of the teaching autopsy: Autopsy is a success story in Cuba. BMJ 328: 166-166 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Autopsy as an educational tool in Indian Medical Schools

Dr. Vikas Dhikav
bmj.com, 4 Oct 2003 [Full text]

Autopsy findings are important to all clinicians, including general practitioners.

Brian S Hurwitz, et al.
bmj.com, 6 Oct 2003 [Full text]

Autopsy and Imaging

Ian C Bickle
bmj.com, 6 Oct 2003 [Full text]

Re: Death of the teaching autopsy

Guy N Rutty
bmj.com, 7 Oct 2003 [Full text]

Lack of teachiong Autopsy is a UK Problem also.

Robert Mulholland
bmj.com, 8 Oct 2003 [Full text]

A need to champion the teaching autopsy, the HKU experience.

Philip SL Beh
bmj.com, 9 Oct 2003 [Full text]

Dearth of interest in teaching autopsy

Jeremy M Rawlins
bmj.com, 15 Oct 2003 [Full text]

Autopsy and Dissection.

Prof.Owen L. Wade
bmj.com, 21 Oct 2003 [Full text]

The autopsy as a research tool versus the arrogance of twenty-first-century medicine

Gema Frühbeck
bmj.com, 2 Nov 2003 [Full text]

Death of the teaching autopsy

Dinesh N Ratnapala
bmj.com, 10 Nov 2003 [Full text]