[Clinical autopsies from a medical ethics perspective]

Abstract

Background: Autopsy quotas in Germany are persistently low. By way of providing an explanation, the (ethical) reservations of the general population against autopsies are presented.

Objective: Normative assessment of clinical autopsies, elaboration of ethically relevant arguments for and against autopsies and review of the suspected reservations of the general population.

Material and methods: Reanalysis of the literature, review of qualitative and quantitative studies on the subject field and discussion of the verified ethical argumentation figures.

Results: Historical prejudices (e.g. recruitment practice, popular belief and religious reservations) have long been inhibiting the acceptance of clinical autopsies. The current discussion on clinical autopsy is often focused on normative arguments and while autopsy critics primarily argue from an individual ethical perspective, autopsy advocates primarily argue from a social ethics viewpoint. Quantitative studies, however, prove that the majority of the population today has no (ethical) reservations against autopsies.

Conclusion: Although most reasons for the persistently low autopsy rate are primarily structural and motivational, some normative implications relating to these aspects remain.

Keywords: Acceptance; Autopsy quota; Historical prejudice; Individual ethics; Social ethics.