Correspondence (letter to the editor): Medication Lists as Long as Your Arm

Since we pediatricians were integrated into the on-call service a few years ago, the subject of the medical examination after death unfortunately now falls within our area of responsibility as well. However, in our specialty, as no doubt in other specialties such as ophthalmology, ENT, and orthopedics, the knowledge required for this service is somewhat lacking. First of all, we know nothing about the previous medical history of the deceased; often the medication lists—many of them as long as your arm—are beyond us; we have little understanding of medicolegal matters; and at three to five examinations per year we do not really get much practice in, either. Add to that the fact that in a private home the conditions for examination of a body are not the best, from inadequate lighting to lack of physical ability to manage undressing the body and changing its position. Given all of this, it does not surprise me that the result is many sources of error in cause of death statistics and missed cases of unnatural death. Introducing the principle that a second examination of the body should be carried out by a medical examiner or forensic physician, e.g., at the undertakers or funeral parlor, would serve a very useful purpose.