India and the problem of “needless autopsies”

Abstract

The primary aim of autopsy is to ascertain the cause of death. The autopsies performed worldwide are mostly medico-legal or clinical. In India, 'needless autopsies' are conducted widely causing waste of already limited resources. Ironically, clinical autopsies are largely ignored despite of their utility in clinical practices. The policy makers need to declare clinical autopsies as a useful investigative tool that can have futuristic implications in development of health care practices. At the same time needless medico-legal autopsies need to be curtailed for the better utilization of already limited resources chiefly in terms of the manpower and expertise that can be utilized for clinical autopsies whenever required.