The perinatal autopsy: its conduct and reporting in Australia

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Abstract
To assess the conduct and reporting on death certificates of perinatal autopsies in Australia. (i) Medical certificates of cause of perinatal death in all States and Territories; (ii) registrations of perinatal deaths in New South Wales in 1985 and 1986. Death certificates are assessed on three criteria: (i) an indication that an autopsy was performed; (ii) an indication whether the stated causes of death were based on autopsy findings; and (iii) an indication whether the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy. Perinatal death certificates give insufficient information in all three areas. Assessment of the accuracy and usefulness of autopsies requires better information. A two-part death certificate is suggested. The first part would report clinical diagnoses of the causes of death. The second part would compare these results with those of any autopsy.

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