Autopsy Vent

[CowboyCO]

The toxicology process can't be rushed, so it will take as long as anyone else's. But the family may get results and information along the way in a celebrity case that other families do not get. It is unfair, but celebrities get many kinds of preferential treatment because of their status. Sorry for anyone that is going through this.

Actually in can be rushed by a private autopsy. When it comes to an autopsy performed when there may be cause to believe it was not a natural death, the coroner must follow a specific procedure for chain of custody for any future criminal case, so it takes a little longer. Plus, the private firm can have tests performed more quickly and get results more quickly.

I feel for those families waiting for cause of death for a non-criminal autopsy, but those cases which may be criminal take precedence, which unfortunately pushes back the coroner's reports, even though the results may have been back for months....

 

[CPT Tripss]

The disparity on speed of autopsy results does not disturb me nearly as much as the economic/celebrity disparity on organ transplants. Money talks.

 

[Aristomommy]

Here is a good explanation of the toxicology process.

http://www.slate.com/id/2182156/

 

[HelenePA]

I got my dad's autopsy report back with in 2 days. I couldn't imagine waiting 5 months! What do you do about life insurance? Do they still pay out with out a cause of death?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I got my dad's autopsy report back with in 2 days. I couldn't imagine waiting 5 months! What do you do about life insurance? Do they still pay out with out a cause of death?

Everything was on hold until the report came in.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Regular lab stuff - I can tube it and have the results in the computer in 10-15 minutes. The whole process...from deciding to do it to having the results...less than 30 minutes.

Never had to send and ask for tox crap, so I don't know if that takes longer...but it can't take too long. We get patients who came in through the ER and if they had tox stuff done, the results come with them. Obviously can be done same-day on live people.

It must take longer on dead people.

 

[CPT Tripss]

AFAIK the quick tox tests are screens . . . just a yes/no on the presence of something. In an emergency situation that gives the docs enough to get treatment going.

The autopsy tox tests are much more sophisticated . . . looking at quantity of drug, presence and quantity of metabolites etc. Also there is a much more involved quality assurance process and detailed chain of custody as there may be prosecution. All adds to the time.

 

[olena]

If it seems (or maybe it is) like they get processed more quickly, it might be to get it out of their system and the media and public out of their hair?

 

[Ohiodislover]

We knew the results of my FIL by Friday. He passed on a Monday. It was a coroners case, so maybe that has something to do w/ it as well?

 

[Stitchfans]

All I know is we had to wait 6 months for the results of cause of death for my brother.