Laurie Colbert, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena CA asks:

>>I need to write an autopsy procedure manual, which I have never done. We 
have a current manual, but I do not like it and plan to re-do it. I just want 
to make sure that I get everything in the manual that needs to be in there 
and to not put any extra material in that doesn't need to be there. Are there 
guidelines as to what exactly needs to go in the manual? Are there examples 
that I can get? Is anyone willing to send me their table of contents?<<

Begin by asking yourself: What is this procedure manual for? Who will use it 
and what do they need to know?

If it's just to satisfy the inspectors, then copy into it any rubbish that 
will fill it out to the necessary length.

If I had to perform an autopsy in your facility, what I would want from your 
procedure manual is: exactly how do you do an autopsy at your institution? 
How do autopsy permits work? What fixatives do you use? What's your standard 
procedure for handling a brain? How do I get an X-ray of a body? What 
research protocols are you supporting? How do I call in the autopsy assistant 
on a weekend?

I know how to do an autopsy - what I need to know is - how do you do an 
autopsy in your institution?

Hope this attempt at focusing your question will be of some use to you.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN