The decline in hospital autopsy rates in 2001

Ward, Helen E; Clarke, Belinda E; Zimmerman, Paul V; Cleary, Michael I

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04307.x

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To the Editor: In late 1998, a clinical audit in the Thoracic Division of the Prince Charles Hospital found the autopsy rate was 7% of all patients who died in the Division (excluding Palliative Care) for the 12 months to September 1998. Following discussions and acknowledgement of the importance of hospital autopsy as a clinical audit tool, the Division's policy to consider an autopsy in all patients who died was reinforced. Registrars were educated in seeking approval and in counselling relatives.

The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD 4032

Correspondence:

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Cause of death certification Australia — a booklet for the guidance of medical practitioners in completing medical certificates of cause of death. Canberra: ABS, 1999.
2. McKelvie PA. Medical certification of causes of death in an Australian metropolitan hospital. Comparison with autopsy findings and a critical review. Med J Aust 1993; 158: 816-821.
3. Kingsford DPW. A review of diagnostic inaccuracy. Med Sci Law 1995; 35: 347-351.
4. Hill RB, Anderson RE. An autopsy-based quality assessment program for improvement of diagnostic accuracy. Qual Assur Health Care 1993; 5: 351-359.

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