Autopsy report - is this possible?

[Mycatsgoldtooth]

I have a toxic and dysfunctional aunt who has been spreading rumours that my dad was starved to death by us. So not true, I was with him two days before he died and we went for a meal and spent the day together. He actually died of asbestos exposure and lung cancer. She claims she has a copy of the autopsy and this isn’t true and the findings say he had a tiny cancerous growth. She’s been putting this on facebook, it was told to me as I don’t have social media. Now I’m 99% sure this is bs, but I was wondering if it would be possible for someone to get a copy. I saw it can be requested but would be sent to a GP or doctor to talk through the finding. Can anyone request a random persons autopsy. It seems like it should be private.

Isn't it libel? I would speak to the police and a solicitor.

I’m a Coroners Officer, a post mortem report can technically be requested by someone’s next or kin which for our purposes would be parents, siblings, spouse or children. So if she requested a copy we would send it to her in our area.

Exactly this. Is there a reason you didn't pursue this further OP?

@Twazique my brother is keen to speak with her, I’m less so. But if she says anything more may be a solicitors letter. She’s a complete nightmare so she would probably put it on Facebook for likes. She’s that type.

@TeaandTimelords Thank you so much. Ok that’s so helpful. I thought it had to be requested by a GP. I will request a copy then. Is it confidential once someone has it. She was offering to share it with people apparently, but as I thought it was unlikely she had it I was not really bothered as I thought she was lying. But with this info maybe I have to think about doing more about this situation.

You ask if she could have got a copy of the Post Mortem. The answer is it depends. It depends on who did the Post Mortem and policies of individual institutions.

He might have had a tiny cancerous growth. If he was elderly this is not unusual and many people die before they even know they have a growth. But a tiny growth would not have been relevant to his death.

www.bereavementadvice.org/topics/death-certificate-and-coroners-inquest/obtaining-post-mortem-results/

@babsanderson he was 59 so not so old. Thank you though, it’s helpful too.

@Mycatsgoldtooth She might be lying though. The easiest way to check is to request a post mortem report. If you have the energy to though. You might decide its not worth it.
If he had been starving that would have been mentioned in the death certificate, so he obviously was not. You have proof with the death certificate.

I agree
So much these days is public record
Freedom of information and all that

The post mortem report won't say anything different from what is on the death certificate. That alone is enough to establish that your aunt Is lying.

Sorry for your loss OP. I'd honestly suggest going completely NC with family if you can. I know how hard this can be - my aunt was spreading that my DDad died of CV19, but actually he died of stomach cancer. I have let her get on with it - I know the truth and haven't stopped her. I have just gone NC, cut my landline, she doesn't have my mobile number, anything from her goes in the bin.

I'm sorry OP, what a happy situation.

My mum died last year, she had dementia. The primary cause of death was marked as Cognitive Inanition (which basically, as far as I understand, means Malnutrition). Due to the progression of her dementia, she'd basically forgotten how to swallow 😞 and so she was malnourished and dehydrated. She had a DNR in place, so apart from keeping her mouth moist, nothing else was done and she was unconscious for days before she died.

Additionally, my aunt died due to medical negligence many years ago and the family was able to get a copy of the post mortem. If you do get a copy, be prepared, it makes for harrowing reading 😢.

🌸sorry for your loss.

Eek, sorry, HORRIBLE situation.

You should see if you can get that changed to mesothelioma and get the payout that he should get, if he didn't already get it.

Unless the pathologist has given the cause of death as Mesothelioma you can’t amend the death certificate.

I don’t think it was meant as a bitchy comment. It’s an important fact which could affect the advice you’re given, U.K. laws could be different to US laws on getting copies of death certificates or other documents

Yup. I was sent my partner's before the inquest.

Your aunt could have read something on the death certificate and or PM and totally misunderstood it. Some people see the word malnourished and think starvation.
My father in law died of Metholisioma . He was diagnosed with it and after he died the coroner was informed and his family were told a post Mortem and an inquest would take place. My DH asked why, he was told it’s a legal requirement as it’s a notifiable disease. DH had to identify his dads body and then attend the inquest as a witness. He gave evidence of the places his dad had worked in and how the disease had affected his dad.
He received a full copy of the coroners report, copies were sent to my BIL SIL. It didn’t make pleasant reading and NOTHING WAS OMITTED. Everything the coroner found was in the report, even his creaky knee joints.

Thanks to everyone sharing their knowledge here and sorry to everyone that has lost someone. It’s not been something I’ve thought about in detail for a long time so it’s been a bit rough to have it all brought up. Maybe he didn’t die of asbestos poisoning if death certificate didn’t say that and there was no inquest from what people have posted. I’m just going on what the coroner said to me when they called me asking me about his work history and his health. It’s added another layer of confusion that maybe only reading the report will straighten out.

I’m sorry to hear other people have had to deal with relatives who have lied about causes if related death. It so bonkers. I’m totally nc with my aunt and have been since she shouted at me in hospital after seeing my dads body. She left a bouquet on his grave last year saying “we loved you you even if anyone else didn’t” kind of thing. Which I removed and put in the bin.

If she posts anything else I’ll do something about it, it’s all so fresh as I only heard about it this afternoon. I will also try to get a copy of the post-mortem, though from what others have said it might be hard going to read.

12 years ago my mother died of Mesothelioma, we had to wait on coroner to investigate before we could have a funeral, they could not determine how she got it, even though my father had been a firefighter.
3 months ago my father died of mesothelioma, this time it can be attributed to his work, so we are awaiting the inquest.
At the end of both my parents lives, they lost appetite, and basically stopped eating and drinking, it is sadly part of the disease.
Please don’t let this toxic person take away the good memories of your dads last few days from you x

Hi OP, I work in this field. I hope the following info might help you.

The death certificate will be broken down into 4 sections (1a, 1b, 1c and 2). The medical cause of the event of death will be under 1a and contributory factors under 1b and 1c. Part 2 will state anything that is notable to the medical condition of your father when he died if relevant e.g emaciation/neglect. If there is nothing like that on the certificate then it likely wasn’t noted as an issue.
You can buy extra copies of the death certificate from the authority the death was registered with.

The post mortem report (“autopsy” is still used amongst professionals!) is the property of the Coroner but you can request a copy from them. I strongly suggest you have a medical professional go through it with you if you do get a copy as it’ll all be in medical jargon and they can be difficult to follow. GPs are well practiced in going through post mortem reports with relatives.

Finally, I’d be surprised if there was an inquest into a straight forward mesothelioma death, unless there was someone that could be held at fault. If the Coroner was satisfied with the cause of death, there generally is no need for an inquest.

More generally, it sounds like your aunt is full of shit and a nasty piece of work. I would steer clear.

You can definitely request a copy of the pm report. I did for a first degree relative.

Why should she apologise? It came across as quite a scathing comment (IMO). Lots of people in the UK say autopsy and I wouldn't correct them as they're usually talking about a loved one!!! To correct them seems unnecessary and a bit rude.

I got a copy of my dads post mortem report, my sister was next of kin. It didn't cost me anything.

There is always an inquest into a death when mesothelioma is a primary cause because it’s classed as an unnatural death