[Autopsies 2010. Is death still teaching the living?]

Abstract

Autopsy rates have been declining for decades all over the world; however, the causes of this decline have not been clearly elucidated. This negative trend could cause wider problems as yet unthought of. Autopsies serve medical training and specialist medical training, quality management, patient care systems as well as cause of death statistics, thereby ensuring good medical practice and a balanced allocation of funds. The aim of this article is to present autopsies and their impact on teaching, patient care and epidemiology in an objective manner. Heeding the crucial points could have a positive effect on the entire health system with a minimum of effort, while ignoring them could have adverse consequences for physicians, patients and their relatives, as well as society as a whole.