ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN AUTHOPSY

AND HANDLING WITH HUMAN PARTS

Attitude of society towards death in general:

- Materialistic acceptance of death as

terminal event of life, oriented towards
corps not soul.

- Idealistic prejudice , religious and

custom-related influence considering mostly
soul.
Personal attitude towards death
- short presence in this world versus long
and better life in paradise

ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN AUTHOPSY AND HANDLING WITH

HUMAN PARTS

-Possible Ethical problems

during terminal event-

1.- Patient died before medical

intervention:
-

Information given before real moment of death

- Information given after death

- Patient died during medical intervention

3. -Patient died after medical intervention:

2.

- Period between intervention and death is short

- Period between intervention and death are relatively
long.

ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN AUTHOPSY

AND HANDLING WITH HUMAN PARTS
-Decision for performing autopsy Autopsy is always justify:
1.- the course or circumstances that resulted in the cause of death are not
completely clear.
2.- Condition that lead to death had not been clinically recognized.
3.- In all cases when definitive diagnosis had not been made before death.

It can be performed also in some other

situation:
1.- When all interested parties agree for its performing
2.-It can be performed if had been explicitly or at least implicitly
allowed by the patient himself or his family

ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN AUTHOPSY

AND HANDLING WITH HUMAN PARTS
-Decision not to perform autopsy-

Autopsy should never be

performed when:
- If death person explicitly before
his death refused its performance
(except in cases when reasonable
doubt of reasons give under 1 does
exist).
- If family are strongly opposed to
its performing (except under

ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN AUTHOPSY

AND HANDLING WITH HUMAN PARTS
-Handling with human body parts-

Large parts (arm , leg et):

- identification
- transportation
- dignity
Small parts (biopsy, organs removed):
- diagnostic purpose
- medical secrets