Improving Perinatal Autopsy Rates: Who Is Counseling Bereaved Parents for Autopsy Consent?
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Concern has been expressed recently about perinatal autopsy rates, which are often below recommended levels. Since a possible reason for the decline in adult autopsy rates is the person seeking permission for autopsy, a study was undertaken to ascertain who were seeking consent and who offered counseling for perinatal postmortem examinations. METHODS: A postal questionnaire survey of members of a support group, Stillbirths and Neonatal Death Society in South Australia, was conducted. RESULTS: The idea for an autopsy was initiated by a physician in 20 of 46 cases and by junior medical doctors, midwives, nurses, or social workers in 22 of 46. Women had further counseling and discussion with physicians in 22 cases, junior medical staff in 10, midwives or nurses in 20, social worker in 9, and support group member in 1. Only 33 of the 46 women thought that they had been counseled about the advantages of the autopsy. CONCLUSIONS: It is important that all health workers involved in counseling the bereaved mother know of the benefits and the mechanics of an autopsy so that consent or refusal is based on informed counseling.
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Research and multiprofessional training is important for all staff to improve standards of bereavement care (FES 25%).
“Research and multiprofessional training is important for all staff to improve standards of bereavement care, FES 25 % [31, 35, 37, 38, 40, 52–56]”
From Systematic review to understand and improve care after stillbirth: a review of parents’ and healthcare professionals’ experiences (2016) · cites this paper as [56]
There are many factors which influence parents' decision whether to have a post-mortem (FES 20%).
“There are many factors which influence parents decision whether to have a post-mortem, FES 20 % [25, 35, 38, 46, 52, 53, 56, 62]”
From Systematic review to understand and improve care after stillbirth: a review of parents’ and healthcare professionals’ experiences (2016) · cites this paper as [56]
Parents want improved training so that staff can provide tailored discussions and written information to help them make informed decisions about post-mortem and funeral arrangements (FES 20%).
“Parents want improved training so that staff can provide tailored discussions and written information to help them make informed decisions about post-mortem and funeral arrangements, FES 20 % [25, 35–37, 40, 52, 53, 56]”
From Systematic review to understand and improve care after stillbirth: a review of parents’ and healthcare professionals’ experiences (2016) · cites this paper as [56]
Cites
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The Clinical Utility of the Perinatal Autopsy
Saller, D. N. (1995) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1995.03520320073044 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
The clinical utility of the perinatal autopsy
Saller, D. N. (1995) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.273.8.663 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
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A review of perinatal autopsy rates worldwide, 1960s to 1990s
Khong, T. Y. (1996) · Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-3016.1996.tb00030.x · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Self-citationWho Asks Permission for an Autopsy?
Chana, J., Rhys-Maitland, R., Hon, P., et al. (1990) · Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London · doi:10.1016/s0035-8819(25)02090-2 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
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Khong, T. Y. (1996) · Journal of Medical Ethics · doi:10.1136/jme.22.2.111 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Contribution of the Pathologist After a Perinatal Loss What we should be telling the parents
Khong, T. Y. (1996) · Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · doi:10.1111/j.1479-828x.1996.tb02913.x · Cited by 6 · see citing works
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Ellis, A., Chebsey, C., Storey, C., Bradley, S., Jackson, S., Flenady, V., Heazell, A., & Siassakos, D. (2016) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0806-2 · Cited by 322 · see citing works
Hospital Care for Parents After Perinatal Death
Gold, K. J., Dalton, V. K., & Schwenk, T. L. (2007) · Obstetrics & Gynecology · doi:10.1097/01.aog.0000259317.55726.df · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Perinatal Postmortems: What Is Important to Parents and How Do They Decide?
Breeze, A. C. G., Statham, H., Hackett, G. A., Jessop, F. A., & Lees, C. C. (2012) · Birth · doi:10.1111/j.1523-536x.2011.00513.x · Cited by 55 · see citing works
- Authors
- Khong, T. Y.
- Affiliations
- Women's and Children's Hospital (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Khong, T. Yee
- ORCID
- Khong, T. Yee
- Venue
- Birth
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1997-03
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 55-57
- ISSN
- 0730-7659 (ISSN-L)
- 1523-536X
- OpenAlex
- W2036864926
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2021: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Birth (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare
- Keywords
- perinatal autopsy, autopsy consent, informed consent, bereaved parents, counseling, stillbirth, neonatal death, autopsy, health professionals' role, support groups
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Autopsy, Bereavement, Counseling, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Parents, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self-Help Groups, South Australia
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