Abstract
In recent years the UK has seen a number of public scandals regarding the unauthorized removal and retention of human organs and tissue. This has contributed to an already decreasing rate of hospital autopsy. Deaths from traumatic brain injury must legally be subject to a coronial investigation to confirm cause of death. This process should be less modified by changes in public opinion, but there has been a clear reduction in the numbers of coronial autopsies as well. This decline in the number of autopsies is likely to be detrimental to clinical practice and research. There is therefore increasing interest in finding potential alternatives or adjuncts to autopsy for patients who die as a result of traumatic brain injury. In this article, the trends in current rates of autopsy will be examined, with a brief review of the change in current laws, the types of autopsy that are practised, the English legal requirements for coronial and hospital autopsies, current research into alternative methods of autopsy and the implications for nursing practice.
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