[The high autopsy rate in Vienna]

Abstract

In 1983 34% of all persons who died in the Republic of Austria were autopsied. We examined the frequency of postmortem examinations in the capital city, Vienna, between 1983 and 1987 in view of this high overall autopsy rate. The annual autopsy rate in all 9 pathology institutes and the department of legal medicine of the University of Vienna was on average 51 to 53%. There was a slight statistically verifiable decline in 1987. The reason for this high necropsy rate is that Austrian law permits the autopsies without the consent of next of kin if it appears indicated for medical, scientific or educational reasons; further more the fact, that the chairman of the department is at the same time the coroner for the hospital. A high autopsy rate is necessary to maintain a high standard of diagnostic accuracy even in modern medicine. The diagnoses were inaccurate or incomplete in 15% of all cases. The high autopsy rate is the basis for extremely accurate mortality and morbidity statistics and provides the basis for long range public health planning. Medical students develop an insight in disease patterns, which cannot be gained in any other way. The pathology departments of Vienna introduce a new city-wide computer-supported diagnostic file system, which will provide a baseline for comparative scientific studies.