Practical appraisal to ethics in fetal death: a case of anasarca

Abstract

Human response to the death of a loved one varies among different societies, religions, cultures, and races through a series of ceremonies and observances. Since postmortem examination may be offensive to some of these groups, the determination of the need for autopsy should be based on ethical as well as legal principles. Ethics is the "science which treats of human nature and the grounds of moral obligation; the science of human duty". Although it is the responsibility of society and the duty of a medical examiner/coroner to provide medico-legal death investigation, establishing dogmatic policy is apt to create confrontation rather than fulfillment of statutory obligations. The approach to an objection to autopsy should stress values of "respect, compassion, kindness and courtesy beyond the minimum required by any policy or guideline".