The autopsy is a central component of postgraduate training in pathology and remains an important part of medical practice today. Pathologists are now expected to possess a higher level of knowledge and understanding of the autopsy, the law surrounding it, and its clinical value, in an increasingly scrutinised and legislated environment. Autopsy practice can no longer be viewed in the absence of external contextual issues: it is vital that Pathologists have solid grounding not only in standard technique, but also in such matters as personal health and safety to obtaining informed family consent, before undertaking an autopsy procedure.

This new and revised edition of The Hospital Autopsy presents a clear and systematic approach to safe and effective modern autopsy practice. Like the extremely popular second edition, it begins by discussing issues of consent and mortuary design before going on to comprehensively cover external examination, evisceration, and dissection of internal organs. In this edition, new chapters have been added on the radiological autopsy, religious attitudes to autopsy and the implications of high-risk infections for autopsy practice. Specialist techniques are covered in depth, and chapters are devoted to complex issues including perinatal autopsies, maternal deaths and neuropathological examinations.

The Hospital Autopsy, Third edition is sure to be an indispensable resource for pathologists in training, as well as a useful refresher for practicing pathologists and autopsy technicians.


* High quality colour photographs throughout
* Employs a clear and systematic approach to hospital autopsy technique and the subsequent reconstruction of the body
* Thorough coverage of legal and consent issues surrounding autopsy practice
* The only book of its kind detailing autopsy techniques and providing fully referenced information
* Edited by two of the UK's leading autopsy specialists


Table of Contents:
The History of the Autopsy
The Future of the Autopsy
The Role of the Autopsy in Medical Education
Autopsies and the Law
Religious Attitudes to the Autopsy
The Safe and Healthy Autopsy
The External Examination
The Evisceration
Routine Autopsy Dissection
Examination of the Nervous System
Fetal, Perinatal and Infant Autopsies
The Maternal Autopsy
Toxicology and Biochemical Analyses
Microbiology of the Autopsy
Autopsies of Patients with High-Risk Infections
Investigating Possible Anaphylactic Deaths
The Pathology of Wounds
Perioperative and Postoperative Deaths
The Radiological Autopsy
The Unascertained Autopsy
Reconstruction of the Body
Autopsies and Clinical Audit
Reports, documentation and statements

About the Author(s):
Julian L Burton, Clinical Lecturer in Histopathology and Senate Award Fellow in Learning and Teaching at the University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Guy Rutty, Professor of Forensic Pathology, East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Home Office registered Forensic Pathologist, Leicester, UK