post mortem medical decisions
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Post Mortem Medical Decisions
Unfortunately there are times when doctors cant answer all the questions abouthow or why something happened to a loved one. This applies in both human and
veterinary medicine. As painful as it may be to discuss, sometimes answers can be
discovered after an individual passes away. A post-mortem exam of an animal is called anecropsy. A necropsy entails a surgical explore of an animals body; this can involve the
brain, chest and abdominal cavities, and all organs. This is a service that your
veterinarian may perform herself/himself or recommend that a specialist (veterinarypathologist) do it. The purpose of this article to help people understand what a necropsy
is, why it is performed, the emotions experienced, and the limitations of a necropsy.
People in todays society often view their pets as their children. Because there is
very little information in the veterinary literature on the experiences associated withnecropsies, research performed in human medicine has helped us learn more about the
experiences of parents that have consented to autopsies of their children. The decision to
have necropsy performed is a personal one. There are many reasons to have a necropsy
performed. The results can help assist in the diagnosis, provide closure to the family, andthe lead to the continuation of medical knowledge. Despite ones reason for requesting a
necropsy, its important to consider the emotional conflict that results from the results.Emotional responses range from very positive emotions to very negative emotions. Its
important to know that either emotional response is a normal part of the grieving process.
The most common emotions that people experience include acceptance, reassurance,guilt, and sadness. People have reported that the results of the necropsy have either
helped them deal with their loss or added to their guilt. Despite the gamut of emotions
that people experience, very few people regret the decision to have a post-mortem exam
performed on a loved one.The limitations of a necropsy should be discussed prior to consenting to a
necropsy. Unfortunately, a necropsy cant always answer all of our questions. In somecases, a necropsy can be performed and result in no diagnostic findings. Another thing toconsider with a necropsy is your desired after care of the body. Some people prefer a
home burial while others prefer cremation. After a full necropsy, the body can still be
cremated and ashes can be returned to the owner. If you would still like the option ofdoing a home burial, there may be the option to request a cosmetic necropsy. A cosmetic
necropsy would allow you to bury the body as you desire, but it does limit the amount of
information gathered from the necropsy. Finally, the timing of a necropsy is very
important. After an animal dies, the body is often stored a freezer to slow thedecomposition process. Freezing destroys the cells and severely limits the information
that can be recovered during a necropsy! Discussing a necropsy at the time of death will
help ensure that we get the most information possible.Depending on your pets situation, your veterinarian or the veterinary pathologist
may be able to help you weigh the benefits vs. the drawbacks of having a necropsy
performed. There are a lot of emotional, financial, and personal decisions that need toconsidered prior to requesting a necropsy. Discussing your thoughts and feelings with
your friends, family, and veterinarian will definitely help you make the best decision for
you and your family.
Written By Brittany Mathes DVM
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7/28/2019 Post Mortem Medical Decisions
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Works Cited
Ito, Takako et al. Importance of explanation before and after forensic
autopsy to the bereaved family: lessons from a questionnairestudy. Law, Ethics, and Medicine 36 (2010). p. 103-105.
Jost, Kathleen and Joan Haase. At the Time of Death: Help for theChilds Parents. Childrens Health Care 18 no. 3(1989). p. 146- 152
Laing, Ian A. Clinical Spects of Neonatal Death and Autopsy.Seminares in Neonatology9 (2004). p. 247-254
LeBlanc, Thomas W et al. Autopsy and Grief: A Case of
Transformative Postmortem Examination. Journal of PalliativeMedicine 15 No. 2 (2012). p. 251-253.
Oppewal, Feike and Betty Meyboom-de Jong. Family Membersexperiences of Autopsy. Family Practice 18 No.3 (2001) 304-308.
Sullivan, Jane and Paul Monagle. Berreaved Parents Perceptions ofthe Autopsy Examination of Their Child. Pediatrics: OfficialJournal of the American Academy of Pediatrics 127 (2011).p.e1013-e1020.
Written By Brittany Mathes DVM