Aim: While there have been efforts to slow the recent declining trend in autopsy practice in the world, in Turkey there is already a low level of medical autopsy audit, practically nearing zero. In this study, we determine and evaluate the autopsy status in Turkey; reveal pathologists' attitudes towards autopsy practice; propose several factors to explain current autopsy audit; and discuss differences in Turkey's autopsy practice with that of the rest of the world. Materials and Methods: We directed a questionnaire to 85 pathologists and requested autopsy numbers from 50 universities for the period 1995 to 2003. Results: Mean values of attended and performed autopsy by pathologists were 24.89 and 21.56, respectively, while medians were both 7. Nearly 60% of pathologists expressed their willingness to perform autopsy, mainly in university hospitals. Half of those attending autopsy were not theoretically trained regarding autopsy performance and only 11.8% were aware of legislative procedures. The majority of pathologists agreed that they should not take part in the consent meeting with parents of the deceased. Seventeen of 50 pathology departments of universities (34%) responded to our request for autopsy audit. From the responders, the highest medical adult and perinatal autopsy numbers/year were 4.25 and 148.75, respectively. Adult medical autopsy was not performed in 10 (59%) of the responding universities. Despite the already low rate of adult autopsy, we determined a significant declining trend over the period studied. Conclusions: We concluded that pathologists and possibly clinicians are not aware of or underestimate the crucial importance of data gathered by autopsy and this seems to have the most important influence on the low autopsy audit in Turkey.

Aim: While there have been efforts to slow the recent declining trend in autopsy practice in the world, in Turkey there is already a low level of medical autopsy audit, practically nearing zero. In this study, we determine and evaluate the autopsy status in Turkey; reveal pathologists' attitudes towards autopsy practice; propose several factors to explain current autopsy audit; and discuss differences in Turkey's autopsy practice with that of the rest of the world. Materials and Methods: We directed a questionnaire to 85 pathologists and requested autopsy numbers from 50 universities for the period 1995 to 2003. Results: Mean values of attended and performed autopsy by pathologists were 24.89 and 21.56, respectively, while medians were both 7. Nearly 60% of pathologists expressed their willingness to perform autopsy, mainly in university hospitals. Half of those attending autopsy were not theoretically trained regarding autopsy performance and only 11.8% were aware of legislative procedures. The majority of pathologists agreed that they should not take part in the consent meeting with parents of the deceased. Seventeen of 50 pathology departments of universities (34%) responded to our request for autopsy audit. From the responders, the highest medical adult and perinatal autopsy numbers/year were 4.25 and 148.75, respectively. Adult medical autopsy was not performed in 10 (59%) of the responding universities. Despite the already low rate of adult autopsy, we determined a significant declining trend over the period studied. Conclusions: We concluded that pathologists and possibly clinicians are not aware of or underestimate the crucial importance of data gathered by autopsy and this seems to have the most important influence on the low autopsy audit in Turkey.