INTRODUCTION: The decline in the number of autopsies at hospitals and university hospitals has been widely reported, initially in developed countries and afterwards in several developing countries including Brazil. The causes for this trend are multiple and complex, encompassing religious, family and medical aspects. Among the latter, we highlight diagnostic reasons, which are characterized by major technological advances in clinical imaging associated with the underlying assumption that all diagnoses can currently be made before death. Furthermore, there is a growing concern about malpractice lawsuits. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the sharp decrease in the number of autopsies at a university hospital in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the number of autopsies conducted at the Pathology Department of Antonio Pedro University Hospital (HUAP), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, and a database spreadsheet was created at Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: From 1966 to 2009, 23,813 autopsies were performed, comprising 12,702 adults and 11,111 fetuses. The highest number of autopsies occurred from 1966 to 1998, when 23,321 autopsies were performed, comprising 12,482 adults and 10,839 fetuses. Whereas, there was a dramatic decline from 1999 to 2009, when 492 autopsies were performed, including 220 adults and 272 fetuses. CONCLUSION: We believe that the main cause of this reduction is the lack of information among laypeople and medical professionals, who have neglected the fact that knowledge is ultimately acquired through study, investigation and practice.
Necropsy; Decline; University hospital
