From John de Rivaz
I was most interested in the articles about post-mortems, particularly the
assertion that an opt-out scheme in Austria, Sweden and Switzerland resulted in
a much higher autopsy rate than the “compulsory in some circumstances only”
system operated in Britain and the US
(2 February, p 16).
I would like to draw your attention to the website www.autopsychoice.com,
which has been advocating such a system for over a year. The site is polling
visitors and displaying the results, and it also has links to government
materials.
I am confident that the introduction of an opt-out scheme that gives
individuals the freedom to express an absolute veto would improve the social
standing and working conditions of pathologists. Instead of being seen as
ghoulish butchers compelled by law, they would be seen as, and indeed be,
professionals performing a service for the deceased and their relatives.
Truro, Cornwall
