Maternal Autopsy Program - Information for Families

Understanding Your Options During a Difficult Time

When someone you love dies, you may be faced with an overwhelming list of pressing choices to make and things to do. At a time when you may feel emotionally devastated, you will be asked to make quick decisions about matters that you may never have considered before. One of the questions you may be asked to consider is whether or not you want to request an autopsy. This information is designed to provide you with some basic facts about autopsies that we hope will help you make an informed decision.

What Can an Autopsy Show?

An autopsy can provide valuable medical information that may not have been available during your loved one's life:

• Provides a medical opinion about immediate and underlying causes of death. This gives you and your family clear answers about what happened.
• Can confirm a medical finding or reveal other causes of illness. Sometimes there are medical conditions that were not detected during life.
• May detect some inherited diseases. This information can be crucial for the health of other family members.

Why Consider an Autopsy?

There are several important reasons why families choose to have an autopsy performed.

For your family's peace of mind:

• An autopsy will provide detailed information about what caused your loved one's death.
• Even if the cause of death seems clear, your loved one may have had medical problems that were not known during life.
• This information can help find closure during your grieving process.

For your family's health:

• Information gained from the autopsy can be important for the health of other family members in the future.
• If inherited conditions are discovered, this knowledge can help protect your family's health.

For medical knowledge:

• An autopsy is a way for healthcare providers to confirm diagnoses and assess the effectiveness of their therapy.
• The information gained provides lessons that can be valuable when treating future patients.
• It provides a means to improve the quality of care healthcare providers give their patients.
• Autopsies have the potential to benefit society in general by leading to the discovery of new diseases and providing new insights into known diseases.

Practical Information

Cost

There is NO cost for the maternal autopsy and transportation. All costs are paid for with public funds through the Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Program.

Timeline

• Initial examination typically takes between two and four hours.
• Time depends on the type of disease, whether there are limitations to the autopsy, and the goal of the autopsy.
• Additional studies also may be performed to identify possible infections or other conditions.

Transportation

• If you choose to have an autopsy performed, your loved one will be transported to the facility performing the autopsy.
• After the autopsy is performed, your loved one will be transported back to the funeral home of your choice.

Funeral Services

The autopsy procedure does not prevent the deceased from being viewed or preclude a funeral service. You can still have the funeral arrangements you desire.

The Process

A pathologist will contact you to:

• Answer any questions you have about autopsies.
• Explain the process in detail.
• Obtain consent to perform the autopsy if you choose to proceed.

For more information about the Alabama Maternal Autopsy Program, please download our brochure or contact:

Alabama Department of Public Health
201 Monroe Street
Suite 1350
Montgomery, Alabama
Phone: (334) 832-0216