Post-mortem/autopsy

Unnatural Causes by DR Richard Shepherd is an incredible book if anyone is interested in the subject.

I wish I’d known that Hetty, when my Dad died. My mother was very upset that Dad had to have a post mortem, but it was presented to us as it had to happen. He had been in hospital for one week following a serious ‘heart event’ and then sent home for a week. He then fell and was readmitted to hospital, but developed an infection. It wasn’t known whether the infection or the heart failure killed him. To us it didn’t matter which it was, he was old and worn out, poor old man. I wish I could have saved my mother the additional distress, if only I’d known we could say no, we weren’t asked for permission.

It's quite simple to record your decision about organ donation. I assume that you'd rather opt out, annsixty:

www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/refuse-to-donate/refuse-donation-form/

Here in the UK it's a matter of law, rather than preference. The coroner is required by law to carry out a post-mortem when a death is suspicious, sudden or unnatural.

Hospital post-mortems, though, can only be carried out with consent. The consent of a relative will be sought. You can make your wishes clear but there is no legal obligation for them to be followed. Laws tend to apply to the living - not the dead.

Perhaps the best way to avoid the possibility of a post mortem is to maintain regular contact and appointments with a doctor. If a doctor hasn't seen you for several months, there's likely to be questions about the cause of death.

It’s nothing new. Back in the 14c they used a ‘corpse examiner’ to fulfil the same function.
All I’ll say is if there was something odd about a death isn’t it best that it’s exposed.

Thanks for the link Suzie, I knew about the preference for quick burial but didn’t know about the post mortems.
We waited a fortnight for my Dad’s cremation, it did seem rather a long time, but I think that’s the norm nowadays.

You have the solution now @annesixty thanks to @suziewoozie.
Conversion!

Thank you all for the information, not what I wanted to hear but I won’t mention anything now to my AC.
They hate it when I talk about my death.

We are unfortunately going through this with my dad who has died and he has to have a post mortem - we have no say in the matter. He died at home.

Yes Moslems as well. This is a summary from when the changes came in in 2009
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jews-and-muslims-succeed-in-bid-to-avoid-post-mortems-1672110.html

Do Jewish people have rules about post mortems Suzie? I didn’t know that. Does it apply to other religions too?

My dear Dad died in hospital at nearly 90 years old. He was admitted with heart failure, but developed a chest infection, and because of the two conditions he had to have a post mortem, which upset my mum and myself. We just thought, poor old man, what a shame, it didn’t matter to us whether it was the infection or the heart failure, we’d still lost our lovely man. It turned out to be the heart failure. Nonetheless Dad looked beautiful when we went to see him later.

When the Bodach died we had to wait an extra day for the death certificate, as they have apparently started doing random checks, looking for things like more deaths than normal occurring in certain wards/hospitals, or being certified by a certain doctor.

I think they’re an awful lot more cautious since Shipman.

My mother was 97, with advanced dementia, when she died in her care home, but it had to go to the Coroner because (I gather) the doctor who’d seen her 36 hours previously (and who’d said she was dying and there was nothing to be done) was an emergency weekend doc, not her usual GP.
There was no question of a PM, though.

I think because of Shipman there were wholesale changes in the power of doctors to write death certificates that went unchecked.

Yes, when there is no obvious cause of death.

After Shipman, I think more autopsies are carried out.

Dottynan
Death is natural, circumstances make the difference'

Monica
Sudden deaths have to be reported to Coroners /Medical Examiners who make decisions on post mortems.

Don't jump into the lion's den or of Blackpool Tower as other than a natural death will require a post mortem.

You will have to opt out soon, Yennifer

annsixty I have the exact same fear/phobia. Even though part of me knows its not rational or logical I can't be dealing with the thought of it. None of my little family are on an organ donar list either because I can't cope with it. I really hate that I feel that way and otherwise think organ donation is amazing! Phobias are just what they are, not always understandable but very real to the person with them. I think you should put in place whatever measures make you feel a bit better x

My H worked in Aston-under- Lyne and his closest colleague was a patient of Harold Shipman, he thought he was wonderful as did a lot of his patients.
They could not believe it of him at first.

Perhaps this thread should be a reminder to make a list of our wishes, even if we can do nothing about a post-mortem if necessary.

Although I may specify that they use those biodegradable food waste bags

There are special arrangements for Jewish people I believe to avoid ‘opening up’ if they wish.

I do agree with you all, I am just a bit disturbed by it all.
I shall never know if it has been done of course.
Thankful for small mercies.