Mission
- To thoroughly evaluate the presence and extent of human disease in patients succumbing to those dis-eases, and to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic procedures, for the benefit of patient families, our staff, and the future practice of medicine
- To educate our housestaff, housestaff and medical staff in other departments, and medical students in the physical manifestation of human disease and in post-mortem examination procedures
- To develop quality assurance data and outcomes measures statistics for the Yale-New Haven Hospital
People
The autopsy service is staffed by three full time autopsy technicians, including the manager of the service, Arthur Belanger. The medical and administrative aspects of the service are conducted under the direction of Dr. John Sinard. The department's pediatric pathologist, Dr. Eduardo Zambrano, coordinates the neonatal, perinatal, and pediatric autopsy cases, while the adult cases are attended by over a dozen rotating staff pathologists in the department.
Facility
In October of 1994, we began using our new, state-of-the-art autopsy facility, officially dedicated in December, 1994. This facility includes two of the most modern autopsy rooms in the world, with negative pressure ventilation and observation rooms. In addition, there are special rooms for cutting in gross specimens, tissue preparation, and development of special procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I consider granting permission for an autopsy?
Many people believe that autopsies should only be performed when there is uncertainty as to the cause of death. Although this is certainly a good reason for an autopsy, it is not the only reason. An autopsy can be reassuring for the family, verifying that there was nothing unknown going on. If unexpected findings are uncovered, this can be of great benefit to the continuing education of our doctors and nurses. Autopsy examination allows us to fully evaluate the extent of the disease process and the effectiveness of therapy, giving us more information about how diseases behave in the human body and how we might better help other patients with similar diseases.What will the autopsy cost me? Who may give permission for an autopsy?
In Connecticut, the permission of the family member who is assuming responsibility for the burial of the patient is required for a hospital autopsy. Permission may be given in person by signing the permission form, or may be given over the phone if the telephone conversation is witnessed by a second member of the hospital staff.What actually happens during an autopsy?
An autopsy, derived from a Greek word meaning "seeing for oneself", is a careful medical examination of the body and its organs by a physician specializing in the study of human diseases. Surgical techniques are used to remove and examine each organ, and tissue is selected for microscopic examination or other special tests as indicated. Each procedure is conducted with the utmost skill, respect, and professionalism.Are there religious objections to performing an autopsy?
Autopsies have been performed on individuals of all religious backgrounds, and most major religions leave this decision to the next-of-kin. However, as religious decisions are always personal, you may wish to consult with your priest, minister, rabbi, or other religious leader.Will an autopsy limit what funeral arrangements I am able to make?
No. Even a complete autopsy in no way disfigures the body, and the deceased can still be viewed in an open casket. In addition, since autopsies are performed seven days a week, 365 days a year, there is gen-erally no need to delay or alter funeral arrangements. The hospital staff will work with the funeral director of your choice to be sure the body is available on time.If I would like some questions answered, but do not want a complete autopsy performed, can I give per-mission for a limited autopsy?
Yes. We will honor any restrictions which you might wish to make. It is not uncommon, for example, for the family to request that the autopsy examination not include examination of the brain. Of course, many diseases affect multiple organs and tissues, and as such we prefer to perform as complete an examination as is possible so the most information will be obtained.Can an autopsy be performed even if I have given permission for organ donation?
Yes. Of course, any organs which have been donated cannot be evaluated at the time of the autopsy, but much can still be learned from the organs which remain. Yale-New Haven hospital recognizes the importance of evaluating the death of every one of its patients to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, we will perform an autopsy free of charge on anyone who has ever been a patient of the Yale-New Haven Hospital. This is true even if the patient dies outside of the hospi-tal, such as in a nursing facility or at home. Can Yale do an autopsy on someone who was never a patient of the Yale-New Haven Hospital? Yes. We provide a full range of consultation services for other hospitals and members of the community. This ranges from complete autopsies to examination of individual organs to review of slides from an autopsy performed at another institution. However, if the patient was never treated at Yale, we have to charge a fee to cover our expenses in processing the case.
Statistics
Nationwide, autopsy rates have been declining. Whereas in the 1950's nearly half of all in-hospital deaths were evaluated at autopsy, that number has dropped to below 10%. This drop has been attributed to a number of causes, including misconceptions on the part of the medical staff and families about autopsy procedures and the continued value of the autopsy. Autopsies continue to advance our understanding of disease, and benefit housestaff in pathology, the clinical staff, and potentially other patients who are cur-rently suffering from similar diseases. What we learn from autopsies allows clinicians to more accurately diagnose diseases and to improve terapy. It is the policy of the Yale-New Haven Hospital that autopsies are to be requested on ALL in hospital deaths. There is no charge to the family for an autopsy on anyone who has ever been a patient of the Yale-New Haven Hospital, and even a complete autopsy does not in any way interfere with the viewing of the body at a funeral. Yale has consistently maintained a higher overall autopsy rate than the national average, and several new programs have been initiated to improve our current rate.