Does anyone know how to go about requesting an autopsy?
My mother is still alive. When she dies, I want her autopsied. To confirm the Alzheimer's diagnosis among other reasons. I contacted the medical examiner in my county and was told they don't do autopsies on request. Either the person has to die at home, or for a mysterious reason, or via foul play. If the person is at a nursing home, which my mother is, the nursing home would have to facilitate the request. Without going into all the details, my mom's nursing home will not cooperate, so I can't count on them at all. The person who answered the phone said she "thinks" I could get a "private pathologist" but of course doesn't know anyone and has no idea how to get that ball rolling.
I live in NY, in Nassau County. Any information will be appreciated. Thank you.
Jeannegibbs--you're my woman. Thank you for coming to my defense. Although this may not have been the intention, I felt very judged by some of the responses, as if I were asking permission to do something "bad" or "socially unacceptable." I chose not to disclose my reasons and open myself up for an examination/evaluation/ridicule of them.
I plan to look into "private" autopsies through both a hospital and an Alzheimer's research organization and I'll be glad to share with this group how it turns out for me.
Thanks for caring.
Also, I was given the impression (by the hospital) that anyone can request an autopsy by a hospital, but a medical examiner autopsy is only done if there is a question about the cause of death (as in my mom's case) or a potential crime. You certainly should have no problem requesting a hospital autopsy and they are usually very eager to do them as they learn a lot from them and can add to very important research for the future.
In my case, I intend to be cremated. If my organs or anything else can be used, they will be donated first. If any research company wants a piece of me they can have it. I don't have any problem with that for ME. But for my mom it was a different story.
Angel
I think my reaction is to the stigma attached to autopsies. There are some very good reasons for exploring the body after life has left it. It does not greatly delay any following procedures. It can happen before a burial or a cremation. It can happen before an elaborate public funeral or a pauper's burial.
If someone asks "how do I arrange a certain kind of burial service," we don't typically think it our duty to inform them of all the "gruesome" procedures involved in preparing a body for burial and all the reasons we couldn't imagine doing that to the body of a loved one. Similarly if someone asks how to arrange cremation we don't typically give a lecture on the "gruesome" process that the body goes through or describe the cremains and tell the poster not to make the disposal of the body "complicated."
We accept that different people have different views about how dead bodies should be treated.
I simply wish that included an acceptance of the sometime-benefit of examining the body medically before whatever will happen to it next.
Now that we've gotten the mutual admiration declarations out of the way, I want to explain my reactions in this thread.
My husband's body was autopsied. Every organ was taken out and weighed. The top of his cranium was sawed off and his brain was examined closely. Slices of brain tissue were captured and preserved and remain in a brain tissue bank in Florida, where they are still available for examination as research into dementia continues.
No one tried to talk us out of this decision. No one has criticized me for allowing this invasive activity to be performed on my beloved husband's empty vessel (at least not to my face).
It apparently was OK for us to do this because it was for a noble cause -- a cause the person reacting believes in.
I strongly do not believe that Christine73 has to tell us her reason and justify her decision in order to ask for simple factual information -- how to carry out her decision.
If you believe that an autopsy is "invasive" but embalming is not, you are entitled to that belief. Absolutely. And you are eligible to express that belief. But expecting others to share that belief or other beliefs seems to me out-of-bounds on a public support forum such as this one.
Rainmom, you can't imagine having this done to a loved one. I could and I did. The "Euw, that's gross" kind of reaction is insulting, though I know it is not intended to be.
Christine, I hope you find the information you need, and I hope the cost is commensurate to the benefit to you.
: tending to spread
medical : involving entry into the body by cutting or by inserting an instrument". That's all I meant when I used the word - even in my mid-spelled version. No judgement- just personal opinion.
We are each entitled to our beliefs about the body after life leaves it. I would hope to see the different beliefs respected on this site.
Please don't tell others not to be invasive or to complicate matters if their (our) beliefs don't correspond to yours.
BTW, I did not receive the autopsy results for several months, but the procedure itself was completed promptly and there was no delay in arranging and holding the memorial service.
I contacted a program that used to be active that accepted cases for autopsy of patients who have dementia. They conducted these autopsies for research on the condition and those with suspected Alzheimers. It was located at a major medical center. The body is returned intact after the procedure. When I contacted them, I found out that they no longer are accepting these cases. They referred me to another group, but I can't recall their name.
I might contact a major medical center in your area and see if they have a program like that. Also, you might call your state's Medical Examiner Office to get info on a private autopsy, which does cost money. I think you are advised to set it up in advance with the place who is doing it, the facility where the patient resides and the transportation provider.
Some relatives request an autopsy to find out about a inherited diseases, also if one thinks there has been malpractice or medical neglect.
This can vary from State to State.
My Mom had passed being in late stage dementia which was caused by her stubbornness not wanting to use a walker, thus she fell at home hitting her head. She was taken to the ER where numerous tests and x-rays were done. A brain bleed was found, including a previous brain bleed which tells me she had fallen once before. Mom spent her final months in long-term-care.
Thus, at my Mom's passing I never even thought for one moment to have an autopsy done. At 98 her heart finally gave out due to complications from late stage dementia. We were able to have the funeral within a couple of days with no delays. Why complicate a very difficult time.
May I ask why it is that you're anxious for this to be done?