Nothing can prepare parents for a post mortem on their baby or child. We know from families that parents do not love or care about their child any less because it has died. They want as much care taken of their child after death as before.
Paediatric post mortem examinations provide valuable information about illnesses and the cause of death. They take place in a mortuary and are carried out by a pathologist who is a doctor with specialist training.
A post mortem examination may happen either at the request of the parents or the hospital, and this will only be with the parent's consent (commonly referred to as a ‘hospital post mortem') or as directed by the coroner (a coroner's post mortem), in which case parental consent is not required.
The procedure involves a careful external examination of the body, followed by a detailed internal examination at which the major organs are removed, weighed and inspected. Small samples of tissue, usually less than 1cm3, or fluid are taken for testing. These will be kept indefinitely in case they are needed in future to answer any further questions about the cause of death. Specific written consent from parents is needed for anything else to be kept, for example for further study or research. All tissue and organs that the parents have not agreed can be kept will be returned to the child's body. Some tests may take several weeks, and if tissue and organs are to be reunited with the child's body, the funeral may be delayed. Alternatively, the parents may agree to the hospital respectfully disposing of the tissue or organs after testing is complete.
Photographs, x-rays and digital video images may be taken during the examination to provide a visual record of findings. These are normally kept as part of the records.
CBC have a Paediatric Post Mortem video which is available in our CBC shop. Please click here... [0]
Free copies of this VHS are available to families, please email enquiries@childbereavement.org.uk [1] for a copy.