Autopsies in Norway and Czech Republic: A comparison a look at international tendencies concerning autopsy rates, and whether these have had any impact regarding autopsy as a means of a retrospective diagnostic tool

Abstract

Autopsies have for centuries been performed as means of executing retrospective diagnostics to determine the cause of death on deceased people. The laws, legislations and norms when it comes to this procedure vary from country to country, and have changed immensely the last few decades; I will in my thesis elaborate the differences between Czech Republic and Norway, and in this respect compare the main causes of death in people of these two countries. I will further try to elucidate the worldwide trend when it comes to the recent decline in the number of autopsies performed; Why is it so, is this tendency likely to change, and what exactly are the pros and cons of performing as high a rate of autopsies as possible?