ABSTRACT
Neuropathologists generally undertake post mortem examinations on cases with obvious neurological, psychiatric or neurosurgical disease. Coroners or, in the USA, medical examiners may direct that such an examination be performed, or clinicians or their representatives seek the consent of the next-of-kin for a ‘medical interest’ post mortem examination to be carried out. This consent needs to be documented on an appropriate form which pathologists should always scrutinize before commencing a post mortem examination. Neuropathologists may also be asked to examine brains taken out by other pathologists. It is important for the neuropathologist to be aware of consent issues in relation to such examinations. These are considered below in the section on preliminary inspection of the brain and in Chapter 25. Further details can be found in Adams and Ludwig (2002) and UK Department of Health Publications listed at the end of this chapter.
