Follow-up calls to next of kin relating to coronial autopsies

It might be expected that follow-up calls relating to coronial autopsies would be distressing for the next of kin, particularly when they occur months or even years after the death. However, a report by Wulff and colleagues ¹ would indicate this is not necessarily the case, and we wish to report that this is our experience also.

A small study requesting permission to use material from coronial cases for research following the conclusion of the autopsy ² encountered no adverse responses and consent was given in all 10 cases. However, a vetting process was applied to determine if the family were unsuitable to be contacted, for example, due to distress or anger; thus a degree of screening was used and all calls were made in close time proximity to the death.

In 2013 calls were made to 80 next of kin relating to deaths that had occurred in the 2009 South Australian heat wave. ³ Most appreciated the communication and the opportunity to have their loss acknowledged.

A similar experience was encountered in calls made to next of kin to ask for consent to include cases of sudden death into an Australian-wide study. A total of 48 next of kin were contacted, with the period between the death and the call ranging up to 40 months. Although three next of kin declined to give consent to be entered into the study there were no adverse responses, and most were pleased to be given an opportunity to contribute to an investigation that might help determine the cause of death and assist others in a similar situation.

Attitudes of the public to the autopsy may not be negative,^4,5 and evidence suggests that the next of kin of the deceased are amenable to being contacted regarding being included in studies, even following a protracted period after the death. This is supported by reports indicating that calls asking for permission to obtain tissues from post-mortem cases were positively received.^1,6 However, this would appear dependent on good communication with the next of kin.^7,8 We hope that this account serves as encouragement to those wishing to communicate with next of kin following a coronial post-mortem examination regarding requests for tissue donation or research.