The autopsy is valuable for its role in undergraduate and graduate medical educ., the identification and characterization of new diseases, and contributions to the understanding of disease pathogenesis. Although extensive, these benefits are difficult to quantify. This systematic review synthesizes the autopsy literature as it relates to 4 key questions: (1) To what extent does the autopsy reveal important diagnoses that were clinically unsuspected prior to death?; (2) To what extent does the autopsy provide a useful performance measure or audit of clinical diagnosis in general?; (3) What impact do autopsy findings have on clinical performance improvement?; and (4) To what extent are vital statistics compromised by low autopsy rates?

Autopsy as a field is enjoying an unexpected renaissance as new and improved uses are found for postmortem examination in quality improvement, education, and research. Increased interest in the autopsy is evident in the popular press as well as in national and international physician meetings.This text will provide an overview of topics the authors consider crucial to competent and effective autopsy practice in the 21st century. Each chapter will combine relevant theoretical background with current and practical experience-based guidance so that pathologists and clinicians can better utilize the autopsy to provide optimal value to families, patients, hospitals, and health systems. Distinguished contributors will provide a review of the rich history of autopsy practice, including assessments of how the past both informs autopsy practice and impedes its progress. The autopsy will be placed in the context of larger healthcare systems with chapters on the use of autopsy in quality improvement and evaluating the value of autopsy as a professional activity, as well as new technology that affects practice models. Better and more reproducible methods for reporting autopsy findings will be explored to exploit the full potential of autopsy data for cross-institutional research. Two chapters will also provide the first book-level review of the growing field of autopsies performed on an urgent basis to sample both diseased and normal control tissue for research. These “rapid research autopsies” are especially crucial to cancer research and the growth of personalized medicine, and the book will explain the science behind utilization of autopsy tissue and offer a full template for designing and delivering a successful rapid autopsy program. Additionally, pathologist and clinician contributors will highlight current recommendations for special techniques and ancillary testing in postmortem examinations to serve the needs of today’s patient populations. As resident education is re-examined by pathology and education authorities, new competency-based training models will almost certainly come to the fore. A chapter will examine approaches to the future training of medical students, residents, and fellows in an environment of changing autopsy exposure. A final chapter will summarize the vision for the autopsy as a clinical outcome measure, and valuable scientific resource. This book will be a new type of volume in the field of autopsy pathology. It differs from the presently available review references and atlases in that it provides guidance for readers to embrace transformations that are already taking place in the field. There currently is no resource that offers comprehensive guidance for modern autopsy practice and looks forward to what the field might become in the future.

A mainstay for pathology residents, Autopsy Pathology is designed with a uniquely combined manual and atlas format that presents today's most complete coverage of performing, interpreting, and reporting post-mortem examinations. This lasting and useful medical reference book offers a practical, step-by-step approach to discussing not only the basics of the specialty, but the performance of specialized autopsy procedures as well. Material is divided into two sections for ease of use: a manual covering specific autopsy procedures, biosafety, generation of autopsy reports, preparation of death certificates, and other essential subjects; and an atlas, organized by organ system, which captures the appearance of the complete spectrum of autopsy findings. Offers expanded coverage of microscopic anatomy. Includes a chapter on performing special dissection procedures that may not be covered during a typical residency. Examines important techniques, such as autopsy photography and radiology, microscopic examination, supplemental laboratory studies, and other investigative approaches. Addresses the latest legal, social, and ethical issues relating to autopsies, as well as quality improvement and assurance. Presents more than 600 full-color photographs depicting common gross and microscopic autopsy findings for every part of the body. Correlates pathologic findings with their clinical causes to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Improved images in the Atlas section provide greater visual understanding. Additional online features include dissection videos demonstrating autopsy techniques; downloadable, commonly used forms for autopsy reports; and calculators for weights and measures. Expert Consult eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience offers access to all of the text, figures, images, videos, forms, calculators, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC 4.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. Before new interventions are released into disease control programmes, it is essential that they are carefully evaluated in field trials'. These may be complex and expensive undertakings, requiring the follow-up of hundreds, or thousands, of individuals, often for long periods. Descriptions of the detailed procedures and methods used in the trials that have been conducted have rarely been published. A consequence of this, individuals planning such trials have few guidelines available and little access to knowledge accumulated previously, other than their own. In this manual, practical issues in trial design and conduct are discussed fully and in sufficient detail, that Field Trials of Health Interventions may be used as a toolbox' by field investigators. It has been compiled by an international group of over 30 authors with direct experience in the design, conduct, and analysis of field trials in low and middle income countries and is based on their accumulated knowledge and experience. Available as an open access book via Oxford Medicine Online, this new edition is a comprehensive revision, incorporating the new developments that have taken place in recent years with respect to trials, including seven new chapters on subjects ranging from trial governance, and preliminary studies to pilot testing.

Der Goldstandard unter den Referenzwerken der Rechtsmedizin In der zweiten Auflage des Handbook of Forensic Medicine vermittelt der Herausgeber Burkhard Madea der Leserschaft einen umfassenden, internationalen Ansatz in der Rechtsmedizin mithilfe eines Teams von Experten aus aller Welt. Das Buch enthält neue Inhalte zu den Themen Tatortuntersuchung, Analyse von Blutfleckenmustern, Terroranschläge, Brandkatastrophen, neue psychoaktive Substanzen und Molekularpathologie sowie einen umfassenden Überblick über sämtliche Aspekte der Rechtsmedizin. In den einzelnen Kapiteln werden alle Faktoren der Qualitätskontrolle und Best Practices behandelt. Anhand von Fallstudien werden die dort erläuterten Konzepte veranschaulicht und die Verbindungen zwischen verschiedenen Teildisziplinen hervorgehoben. Für Spezialisten, die täglich im Einsatz sind, werden in jedem Kapitel die Elemente der Routineanalyse behandelt. In der zweiten Auflage des Handbook of Forensic Medicine werden die neuesten Entwicklungen in der forensischen Molekularbiologie, der forensischen Toxikologie, der Molekularpathologie und der Immunhistochemie besprochen. Darüber hinaus bietet das Werk: * Eine gründliche Einführung in die Aufgaben der Rechtsmedizin in der modernen Gesellschaft mit einer Darstellung der internationalen Richtlinien und Akkreditierungen in der Rechtsmedizin * Umfassende Betrachtungen der medizinischen Aspekte des Todes, insbesondere des Wesens und der Definition von Tod, Autopsie und der Identifizierung der Opfer von Massenkatastrophen * Praktische Erörterungen zur Traumatologie und zum gewaltsamen Tod, insbesondere durch Ersticken, Stromschlag und Blitzschlag, Kindstötung und ärztliche Kunstfehler * Tiefgreifende Untersuchungen zum plötzlichen und unerwarteten Tod aus natürlichen Gründen, auch zur Biochemie nach dem Tod Dieses Buch ist unverzichtbar für jeden Experten in der Rechtsmedizin, Toxikologie und Hämogenetik sowie für alle, die Gutachten für Gerichtsverfahren erstellen sollen. Auch für Rechtsanwälte und Jurastudenten ist es ein ideales Nachschlagewerk.