Prioritization of hospital autopsies

BACKGROUND: Routines for requesting autopsies in hospitals in Norway differ. At the Central Hospital in Rogaland, physicians usually fill out a form requesting an autopsy when a patient dies. The physician can choose between "high", "ordinary" or "low priority". In this study we investigated which patients were given highest priority and which factors influenced the priority made by the referring physician. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study. All requests for an autopsy during the year 2000 were reviewed, except forensic medicine cases and perinatal deaths. We included 785 requests in the study. 237 autopsies were performed: an autopsy rate of 30.2%. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The requesting physicians considered 17% "high priority", 44% "ordinary priority" and 39% "low priority". Significantly higher priorities were set for those who died young, those who died after a short stay in hospital, and for those who died in intensive care units. Sex and time of death did not influence priorities. The recommendation required on the autopsy request form leads to more appropriate decisions by pathologists and strengthens the relationship between clinicians and pathologists.