THE DEATH OF THE AUTOPSY COST - AND FEAR OF WHAT EXAMINERS MIGHT FIND - FUEL A BIG DROP IN THE NUMBER OF AUTOPSIES From: The Boston Globe | Date: December 12, 2000| Author: Larry Tye, Globe Staff | Copyright 2000 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC.Copyright information

The autopsy is on its deathbed.

For most of the last century, it was a fixture of hospital practice in America, with 30 to 50 percent of deceased patients being sliced open to confirm their cause of death and ensure that, while they were alive, they were treated for the right disease with the right therapy.

Today, interest in tracking down medical errors is more fervent than ever. Yet, autopsies, which can offer the surest answer, are done only about 15 percent of the time at mos...

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