Autopsy Service

The autopsy service serves an important role in informing the patient's family and educating both the physician and the medical student. Autopsies are performed Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 and on weekends at the discretion of the pathologist on call. The five full-time anatomic pathologists rotate on the service under the direction of Dr. Poornima Hegde. Full or limited autopsies are performed on perinatal, pediatric and adults who have been patients at John Dempsey Hospital either at the time of death or during their life. The department does not perform medico-legal autopsies which are referred by law to the Medical Examiner. Autopsies on John Dempsey Hospital patients are performed without charge to the patient.