FREE OF CHARGE, SECOND OPINION AUTOPSY REVIEW
When you need to put your mind at rest to be assured that your loved one did not die in vain or because of a mistake made by the health-care professional, a private postmortem evaluation may be able to bring a sense of closure for the surviving family member(s) of the deceased.
We make certain that your deceased loved one is treated with the utmost respect, and our postmortem evaluation is done with standards of professional medical care and conduct. A private postmortem evaluation can independently confirm or determine the cause of death, and identify the nature and extent of any other diseases present. It may also help you better understand your relative’s illness and cause of death. Our private postmortem results can also help with the treatment of other patients with similar illnesses.
NOTE:
The most important FIRST STEP is for the NEXT of KIN to immediately obtain medical records of the deceased loved one from hospitals and all health-care providers involved in the patient’s medical care during life at least three (3) months prior to the love one’s death. The process of obtaining medical records is similar as with during life for transition of medical care,CLICK HERE TO VIEW.
The next step is for the Next of Kin to directly contact Dr. Gates with a request to have a post-mortem examination performed on your loved one, prior to the body being released from the hospital or other medical/nursing home facility where the deceased love one expired. Click Here to Contact Dr. Gates.
AN AUTOPSY MAY NOT BE NECESSARY TO DERIVE AT AN ACCURATE CAUSE OF DEATH AFTER DR. GATES HAS REVIEWED THE COMPLETE MEDICAL RECORDS OF THE DECEASED LOVE ONE. For those next of kin family members to the deceased who can’t afford to pay for an autopsy, we will provide select, limited autopsy evaluation through our nonprofit organization, “The Institute of Pathology and Laboratory Medical Science, INC.” (You may review this announcement in the Lab service provided)
FOR SUSPECT INFECTIOUS DISEASE AS CAUSE OF DEATH, WE SUGGEST EMBALMING THE BODY PRIOR TO POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION. THE TISSUE STRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED AFTER EMBALMING THE BODY, AND IT IS SAFE FOR EXAMINATION. BECAUSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONSTRAINTS, A POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION WILL NOT BE PERFORMED ON SUSPECTED CAUSES OF DEATH DUE TO CREUTZFELDT-JACOB-DISEASE (CKD, PRION DISEASE) OR ANY OTHER HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY DISEASE.
ALL TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES SHOULD BE DONE PRIOR TO EMBALMING THE BODY.
[spoiler title=”Toxicology Evaluation”]In this evaluation, we only perform an external evaluation of the deceased body for identification purpose. DUE TO CHAIN OF CUSTODY, WE DO NOT PERFORM TOXICOLOGY TESTING. Toxicology is usually performed by the medical examiner’s office for complete toxicology drug testing.[/spoiler]
[spoiler title=”Limited Evaluation”]In this evaluation, we only examine the internal organs in the chest and abdomen for trunk only. Or, for brain only, we only examine the brain and proximal spinal chord.[/spoiler]
[spoiler title=”Complete Evaluation”]In this evaluation, we provide a complete external and internal examination. Selected laboratory testing is also done according to antecedent medical records for the deceased individual, as well as based on the autopsy findings.[/spoiler]
