The medical autopsy as quality assurance tool in clinical medicine: dreams and realities

Jan G van den Tweel; Christian Wittekind

doi:10.1007/s00428-015-1833-5

The medical autopsy as quality assurance tool in clinical medicine: dreams and realities

Jan G van den Tweel
, Christian Wittekind

Department of Pathology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	75-81
Number of pages	7
Journal	Virchows Archives
Volume	468
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-015-1833-5
Publication status	Published - Jan 2016

Keywords

Autopsy
History, 15th Century
History, 16th Century
History, 17th Century
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
History, 21st Century
History, Medieval
Humans
Quality Assurance, Health Care
Historical Article
Journal Article

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s00428-015-1833-5Final published version, 267 KBLicence: CC BY

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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.",

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AB - 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.

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KW - History, 15th Century

KW - History, 16th Century

KW - History, 17th Century

KW - History, 18th Century

KW - History, 19th Century

KW - History, 20th Century

KW - History, 21st Century

KW - History, Medieval

KW - Humans

KW - Quality Assurance, Health Care

KW - Historical Article

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SP - 75

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JO - Virchows Archives

JF - Virchows Archives

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ER -

The medical autopsy as quality assurance tool in clinical medicine: dreams and realities

Abstract

Keywords

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