Table 3 Clinicians views on general factors hindering autopsy services in the Teaching Hospital
Main Barrier to autopsy request | Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Reluctance of family to give consent | 100 | 84.0 |
Cultural and religious objections (Muslims and traditional royal persons) | 89 | 74.8 |
Delay in feedback from the pathological service | 54 | 45.4 |
Increased cost to family | 53 | 44.5 |
Difficulty following up | 40 | 33.6 |
Age at death | 29 | 24.4 |
Lack of feedback from the pathological service | 28 | 23.5 |
Increased duration of stay of body in morgue | 19 | 16.0 |
Busy clinical service | 11 | 9.2 |
Limited ability to use autopsy information to improve care | 10 | 8.4 |
Lack of knowledge/circumstance under which autopsy is permitted | 6 | 5.0 |
Unintended consequences | 4 | 3.4 |
Others (Fears of being sued if diagnosis was missed, Request form too complicated, Missing folders/health records) | 8 | 6.7 |
Total | 119 | 100.0 |