ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THE PERINATAL NECROPSY

The perinatal necropsy is an important investigation following fetal o r neonatal loss. Legal requirements on registration decree that consen t is needed before necropsy can proceed in some of these babies. Howev er, there are ill-defined grey areas which are open to legal and ethic al difficulties. This paper discusses the problems that can arise with consent for a necropsy in the perinatal period. Some of these problem s are clearly legal or ethical but all can cause distress to parents a t a time of grief and bereavement. The issues may not be readily resol ved but public debate and ad hominem decisions on each perinatal loss may help to alleviate the problems.