The lingering death of the autopsy

摘要

Drs Ayoub and Chow are to be commended for their article in the April issue of JRSM (JRSM 2008;101:177–181) documenting the sad decline of the autopsy in modern medicine.1 nnI was a clinical medical student at Westminster Medical School (1972–1975) and attendance at the lunchtime postmortem demonstration was a most valuable learning experience. Seeing two postmortems a day with the relevant history was of immense educational value from the clinical point of view, but even more importantly it taught humility. Attending the postmortem of a patient who you had cared for in life was definitely felt to be performing a last act of respect to the deceased.