TY - JOUR T1 - Ethical considerations of the perinatal necropsy. JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 111 LP - 114 DO - 10.1136/jme.22.2.111 VL - 22 IS - 2 AU - T Y Khong Y1 - 1996/04/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/22/2/111.abstract N2 - The perinatal necropsy is an important investigation following fetal or neonatal loss. Legal requirements on registration decree that consent is needed before necropsy can proceed in some of these babies. However, there are ill-defined grey areas which are open to legal and ethical difficulties. This paper discusses the problems that can arise with consent for a necropsy in the perinatal period. Some of these problems are clearly legal or ethical but all can cause distress to parents at a time of grief and bereavement. The issues may not be readily resolved but public debate and ad hominem decisions on each perinatal loss may help to alleviate the problems. ER -