Abstract
Drs Ayoub and Chow are to be commended for their article in the April issue of JRSM (
I was a clinical medical student at Westminster Medical School (1972–1975) and attendance at the lunchtime postmortem demonstration was a most valuable learning experience. Seeing two postmortems a day with the relevant history was of immense educational value from the clinical point of view, but even more importantly it taught humility. Attending the postmortem of a patient who you had cared for in life was definitely felt to be performing a last act of respect to the deceased.
Furthermore I have known many occasions when the performance of a postmortem examination has been regarded as a very positive act by the family, allowing them a better understanding of the final illness.
Many doctors feel inhibited by asking for permission, but we abandon this cornerstone of medical practice at our, and our patients, peril.
Footnotes