What to do if…
you are asked to consent to an autopsy and feel overwhelmed

What to do now

1. Ask what kind of post-mortem this is.
   Say: “Is this a hospital post-mortem that needs consent, or is it being ordered as part of a coroner, Procurator Fiscal or official death investigation?”

2. Ask exactly what decision is needed from you.
   Say: “What decision are you asking me to make, who is allowed to make it, and what happens if I need time to understand the forms?”

3. Get the caller’s details and one contact route.
   Write down the person’s name, role, organisation, phone number, email if available, and any reference number. Ask: “Who is the single best contact for questions from the family?”

4. If this is a hospital post-mortem, ask for the consent form and options before deciding.
   Say: “I am overwhelmed. Please send or read through the consent form and explain what is required, what is optional, and how much time I have.”
   Ask whether the post-mortem can be limited to certain parts of the body, and whether any tissue or organs could be retained.

5. If this is an official death investigation, record urgent concerns now.
   Say: “Please record that we have religious, cultural or family concerns about an invasive post-mortem and want to know whether a less invasive option, such as scanning or a limited examination, is possible in this case.”
   Ask who decides this and how quickly they need the information.

6. Ask about funeral and viewing timing without making final arrangements yet.
   Ask:

   • “Can we view them before the post-mortem, or only afterwards?”
   • “When is the post-mortem likely to happen?”
   • “When might the body be released to the funeral director?”
   • “Who will tell us when release has been authorised?”

7. Ask about tissue, organs and samples in plain words.
   Say: “Could any tissue, organs or samples be kept after the post-mortem? If yes, what might be kept, why, who decides what happens next, and who will explain our choices?”

8. If the death is not being investigated by a coroner or Procurator Fiscal in England or Wales, ask about the medical examiner.
   Say: “Can the medical examiner office speak to me about the death certification process and any concerns I have before registration?”

9. Use a holding line if you are being pressed.
   Say: “I cannot make a safe decision while I am this overwhelmed. Please tell me the exact decision, the deadline, and who can explain the options. I will respond after that.”