Incidental genetic findings discovered during autopsy: an ethical analysis of patient confidentiality post-mortem

Abstract

Protections for patient confidentiality of health information during life prove essential for effective healthcare. However, postmortem, these confidentiality protections can cease. Postmortem, technological advancements enhance autopsy evaluations but also can contribute to incidental findings during autopsy. An incidental finding, unrelated to the cause of death, may include genetic conditions which can have significant implications for family members of the deceased. Thus, autopsy reports may include information neither the deceased or their next of kin anticipated. The ethical and legal implications of disclosing incidental findings with genetic components to family members of a deceased patient are evaluated in this research and advance directives are explored as a possible solution to protecting patient confidentiality postmortem.