Audit in forensic pathology

Autopsy numbers in Australian hospitals have declined markedly during the p ast decade despite evidence of a relatively static rate of demonstrable cli nical misdiagnosis during this time. The reason for this decrease in autops y numbers is multifactorial and may include a general lack of clinical and pathologic interest in the autopsy with a possible decline in autopsy stand ard, a lack of clinicopathologic correlation after autopsies, and an increa sed emphasis on surgical biopsy reporting within hospital pathology departm ents. Although forensic autopsies are currently maintaining their numbers, it is incumbent on forensic pathologists to demonstrate the wealth of impor tant information a carefully performed postmortem examination can reveal. T o this end, the Pathology Division of the Victorian Institute of Forensic M edicine has instituted a program of minimum standards in varied types of co roner cases and commenced a system of internal and external audit. The mini mum standard for a routine, sudden, presumed natural death is presented and the audit system is discussed.