Post-mortem rates and junior doctors in Tayside: three years after the Joint Working Party report

The total number of post-mortem examinations performed in Ninewells Hospital, Tayside's principal teaching hospital has fallen progressively over the last nine years despite publication in 1991 of the Joint Working Party report, 'The Autopsy and Audit'. There were 57% fewer autopsies carried out in 1994 than in 1986. Review of recent post-mortem rates in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee Royal Infirmary, Royal Victoria Hospital and Ashludie Hospital shows a wide variation and no ward, unit or hospital studied achieved rates adequate to satisfy the recommendations of the Joint Working Party report. A questionnaire sent to all Junior House Officers in Tayside in July 1994 showed that the Working Party report's clinical recommendations relating to junior medical staff concerning training to seek permission for autopsies, responsibility for obtaining permission for autopsies and attendance at the post-mortem room have not been implemented. Urgent implementation of the Joint Working Party reports clinical recommendations is called for to prevent clinical post-mortem examinations becoming obsolete.