Autopsy and critical care

An autopsy is a medical procedure consisting of the thorough examination of the body and internal organs after death, to evaluate disease or injury and to determine the cause and manner of a person’s death. In the intensive care setting, autopsies are usually performed to determine the cause of death or further medical knowledge. Early evidence that showed an alarmingly high rate of medical misdiagnosis found at autopsy is being called into question; the role of the procedure itself is being scrutinised. Furthermore, there has been a marked decline in the number of autopsies being performed both in the UK and across Europe. We examine the role of autopsies in modern health care for critically ill patients.