Abstract
Ceylon Medical Journal (CMJ) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published quarterly by the Sri Lanka Medical Association in the last week of March, June, September and December each year. The mission of the CMJ is to promote the science and art of medicine and betterment of public health. The Journal publishes original papers and commentaries which have relevance to medicine and allied sciences. The CMJ is committed to maintaining and conforming to the editorial and ethical standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.
Highlights
Discussing the cause and manner of death with the family of the deceased after the autopsy has generated both confusion and inconsistency in medical practice
The doctors’ duty to the families of their patients does not extend beyond general humanitarian considerations, but the duty towards their patients has a solid legal and ethical basis arising from the doctor-patient relationship
Even with the dead the family’s position is not different. They are not automatically entitled to all the information of the deceased as medical confidentiality does not end with death
Summary
Discussing the cause and manner of death with the family of the deceased after the autopsy has generated both confusion and inconsistency in medical practice. The family does not have any legal right to influence medical management of competent adults. The family is consulted merely because it is not humane to do otherwise [3].
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