No autopsies allowed for covid positive deaths?

[Emergent, RN]

I went to the funeral of a former coworker who died, and was covid positive. This person was in their 20s. I learned that the family had requested an autopsy that had been denied by the coroner. This was because the patient was covid positive. The family wanted to understand what contributed to this sudden death, the patient had been recovering at home and had sudden exasperation of respiratory issues, and had a cardiac arrest during the transfer. 

So, I can see a thriller movie in the future about someone who murders their significant other, who happens to be covid positive and recovering at home.

[MunoRN, RN]

There is no restriction on performing autopsies on Covid patients, and no major health policy group has advised against it at any point during the pandemic.  At the beginning of the pandemic there were stories of coroners who refused to do autopsies on Covid patients, and in some parts of the world this belief was widespread.  But at this point it seems that coroners with these unsupported views are fairly rare.  

[Emergent, RN]

Well, it happened in this case. I know it for a fact.

[heron, ASN, RN]

2 hours ago, Emergent said:

Well, it happened in this case. I know it for a fact.

You may not be getting the whole story. When my partner died, the coroner elected to forego an autopsy. I was told that if I wanted one done, it would have to be at my expense. If the cause of death is reasonably clear and not suspicious, there is no reason for an autopsy at taxpayer expense.

[londonflo]

11 hours ago, Emergent said:

Well, it happened in this case. I know it for a fact.

You could have paid for an outside pathologist to do it. (with permission of the next of kin)

[toomuchbaloney]

13 hours ago, Emergent said:

I went to the funeral of a former coworker who died, and was covid positive. This person was in their 20s. I learned that the family had requested an autopsy that had been denied by the coroner. This was because the patient was covid positive. The family wanted to understand what contributed to this sudden death, the patient had been recovering at home and had sudden exasperation of respiratory issues, and had a cardiac arrest during the transfer. 

So, I can see a thriller movie in the future about someone who murders their significant other, who happens to be covid positive and recovering at home.

The family should have paid for an autopsy then, to increase their understanding, rather than creating an atmosphere of conspiracy and suspicion surrounding that death. 

[Emergent, RN]

10 minutes ago, londonflo said:

You could have paid for an outside pathologist to do it. (with permission of the next of kin)

I don't care it wasn't my relative, I was just bringing up the subject for discussion. I also think it would make a good crime novel plot.

[londonflo]

1 hour ago, Emergent said:

I don't care it wasn't my relative, I was just bringing up the subject for discussion.

You cared even if it wasn't your relative since you brought it to our attention. What kind of discussion were you envisioning?

[toomuchbaloney]

21 minutes ago, londonflo said:

You cared even if it wasn't your relative since you brought it to our attention. What kind of discussion were you envisioning?

Possibly a discussion laced with unfounded fears of medical processes and politically motivated conspiracy theory.  

[Daisy4RN]

6 hours ago, Emergent said:

I don't care it wasn't my relative, I was just bringing up the subject for discussion. I also think it would make a good crime novel plot.

It would make a good crime novel. I was thinking that too. Also thinking maybe you shouldn’t give the wacko’s any ideas LOL.

Some people on here just don’t know how to have any fun anymore, don’t worry bout them!

[Emergent, RN]

1 hour ago, Daisy4RN said:

It would make a good crime novel. I was thinking that too. Also thinking maybe you shouldn’t give the wacko’s any ideas LOL.

Some people on here just don’t know how to have any fun anymore, don’t worry bout them!

Allnurses it's always been filled with people who take themselves too seriously. They like to hair split about one thing or another. Some people just like to argue. Or else they like being in an echo chamber and preach to their own personal choir. It's always good when you have one person to beat on, who maybe put their foot in their mouth or disagrees with the mainstream opinion. This covid section is filled with that type for some reason. The people who just want to get cheered on while telling people such exciting things such as, get vaccinated, and how horrible and heartless people are who have a different point of view. Because this is America, the home of the free and the land of the brave, and whoever disagrees with my opinion is very opinionated and a threat to the common good.

[heron, ASN, RN]

2 hours ago, Emergent said:

Allnurses it's always been filled with people who take themselves too seriously. They like to hair split about one thing or another. Some people just like to argue. Or else they like being in an echo chamber and preach to their own personal choir. It's always good when you have one person to beat on, who maybe put their foot in their mouth or disagrees with the mainstream opinion. This covid section is filled with that type for some reason. The people who just want to get cheered on while telling people such exciting things such as, get vaccinated, and how horrible and heartless people are who have a different point of view. Because this is America, the home of the free and the land of the brave, and whoever disagrees with my opinion is very opinionated and a threat to the common good.

 

Frankly, I looked askance at the original post as well, but decided to take it seriously and assume that you really wanted to read possible explanations.

I guess not.

I guess the “I know a guy who knows a guy …” approach really was a way to resurrect that tired old trope of phony death certificates and inflated numbers. Otherwise, why pull the victim card when other possibilities are presented?