Autopsies must be performed in cases in which the death is suspicious or due to homicide. Which of the following is true regarding current trends in performing autopsies?

Question

A. Technological advances have made postmortem diagnoses more essential.
B. A reason for fewer autopsies is the unavailability of pathologists in small hospitals.
C. More autopsies are performed today because insurance companies cover them.
D. When an autopsy is mandated by law, family members must give consent.
E. Health care costs have climbed, so fewer autopsies are being done.

Answer 1

B. A reason for fewer autopsies is the unavailability of pathologists in small hospitals.

While autopsies must be performed in cases in which the death is suspicious or due to homicide, the number of autopsies performed in all other deaths each year has steadily declined. One reason that fewer autopsies are performed today is cost—insurance companies and government health care programs usually do not pay for autopsies. Some clinicians argue that technological advances have made clinical diagnoses more accurate, so that postmortem diagnoses are less essential. Another reason for the decline in autopsies is that in many smaller hospitals, pathologists are not readily available. Family consent is not necessary if an autopsy is mandated by law.