Guiding principles and laws in the interpretation of postmortem findings

Abstract

The postmortem examination is fundamental to the practice of medicine. This important aspect of medical practice is crucial for the understanding of principles of medicine and pathophysiologic phenomena. The autopsy is however bedeviled by subjectivities which are largely tied to the attending pathologist’s experience and idiosyncrasies. Subjective rather than objective deductions may lead to wrong conclusions with far reaching consequences in the adjudication of justice and public health issues. It is therefore highly imperative to have ground rules, laws and principles by which observations can be interpreted appropriately; devoid of the whims and caprices of specialists in anatomic pathology.