Preface *

List of Appendices *

List of Figures. *

Acknowledgments *

Table of Contents *

Part I. Autopsy Protocol *

Purpose, Structure, and Organization *

Purpose *

Structure *

Organization. *

Measurements *

Diagnostic Terms *

External Examination *

Inventory of Parts *

Clothing and Surface Evidence *

Identifying Features *

Signs of Death *

Organization of External Findings *

Therapy *

Organ and Tissue Donation *

Wounds by Type *

General Organization *

Outside-in *

Paragraphs *

Impact Wounds *

Blade Wounds *

Hanging *

Firearm Wounds *

Burns and Fire Deaths *

Wounds by Organ *

Measurements *

Bones: General *

Skull and Dura *

Ribs *

Long Bones and Pelvis *

Vertebrae *

Ligaments, Joints and Muscle *

Body Cavities *

Great Vessels *

Heart *

Central Nervous System *

Lungs *

Liver *

Spleen *

Internal Examination *

Autopsy Procedures *

Wounds, Therapy, and Donations *

Body Cavities *

Heart and Great Vessels *

Lungs *

Liver, Bile Ducts, Gallbladder and Pancreas *

Reticuloendothelial System *

Genitourinary System *

Endocrine Organs *

Digestive Organs *

Musculoskeletal System *

Neck *

Head *

Tumors *

Part II. Opinion Reports *

The Logic of Opinion Formation *

Definitions of Cause, Mechanism, and Manner *

Global Approach *

Synthesis of Cause, Mechanism, and Manner *

Competing Diseases and Injuries *

Degree of Certainty *

Diagnoses in Tabular Format *

Purpose *

Structure *

Diagnosis or Finding? *

What to Include *

Cause of Death as Diagnosis *

Completeness and Etiologic Specificity *

Diagnoses in Narrative Format: The Summary and Opinion Report *

Purpose *

Structure *

History *

Autopsy Findings *

Opinions *

Part III. Other Reports *

Ancillary Laboratory Reports *

Integration and Signature *

Fixed Organs *

Microscopic Descriptions *

Scene Investigation by Pathologist *

Purpose *

Structure *

Case identification *

Background Information. *

Environment *

Body *

Actions Taken *

Animal Bones *

Purpose *

Structure *

Content *

Part IV. Style *

Construction *

Sentences *

Paragraphs *

Abbreviations *

Parentheses *

Adjectives *

Verbs *

Natural Indexing *

Dictating to Avoid Editing *

Attorneys' Rules of Construction *

Inserting Minor Opinions *

Word Order *

Terminology *

Anatomical Terminology *

Latin and Greek *

Slang *

Brand Names *

General Terminology *

Part V. Death Certification *

Purpose and History *

Death certificate forms. *

Establishing that death occurred *

Cause of death *

Codeable Causes of Death *

Format for Cause of Death Opinion *

Degree of Certainty *

Approximate Interval: Onset to Death *

Manner of death *

Purpose *

Manner of Death Problems *

Life Insurance Issues Related to Manner of Death *

Circumstances *

How Injury Occurred *

Location of Injury *

Place of Injury *

Part VI. Record Retention *

Purpose *

Types of Records *

Autopsy Reports *

Case File Notes *

Death Certificates *

Deposition Transcripts *

Police Reports *

Hospital Patient Records *

Autopsy Recordings *

Investigations of Bodies to be Cremated *

No-jurisdiction Case Notes *

Business Records *

Physical Evidence *