Royal Surrey County Hospital - When a baby or child dies

Why does my child have to have a post mortem examination and what does this mean?

Post mortem examinations are sometimes necessary in order to establish the cause of death and are often required by the Coroner.

Where the Coroner has requested a post mortem, this becomes a legal obligation and although you can raise any objections that you may have, there is no right to refusal. However, we will always inform you of where your child is and assure you of your child’s compassionate care.

Your child may need to be moved to another hospital so that a specialist paediatric pathologist can carry out the examination on behalf of the Coroner. This will be discussed with you before it happens.

Sometimes, even when the cause of death is known, your child’s Doctor may ask your consent for a hospital post mortem examination.

They can be great value in helping to gain further information about an underlying illness, identifying other conditions which your family may need to be aware of, and for teaching and research to help others in the future.

A full post-mortem examination, involves the detailed examination of each of the main body systems including the brain and all the contents of the chest and abdomen. It will normally include the removal and retention of very small tissue samples for examination under a microscope. The Coroner or Doctor will discuss this with you.

The final post mortem examination report may take several months to be completed, depending on the number and type of tests conducted.

The Coroner will then decide how to pass the results to you. Your key worker will be able to arrange an appointment with your child’s paediatrician or neonatologist, to go through this report with you if you wish.

If you wish, you may be able to see your child again after a post mortem examination and before your service of remembrance.

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