Hygiene, architecture and autopsy

The 24(th) August 1998 decree related to technical prescriptions applicable to hospital mortuaries, to be enacted as of September 11(th), 2001. compel s hospital administrations and involved personnel to consider architectural concepts of autopsy room. Nevertheless, the technical prescriptions of thi s decree seem to be inadequate because an autopsy room requires specific fu nctional and technical organization such as adequate flooring, adapted air- conditioning system and plumbing and of course appropriate autopsy tables. Due to imminent enactement of accreditation procedures, it is likely that i n the near future, autopsies will only be performed in centres combining sc ientific competence and sanitary requirements.