The need for speed is also what makes such autopsies challenging. Families must consent to the procedure, often while freshly grieving their loved one’s death. And the logistics surrounding retrieving a body, conducting an autopsy, and then returning the body for a funeral are often complicated. Traffic is unpredictable and “one time, there was a blizzard,” Dr. Hooper said.
Dr. Roychowdhury said he and one of his clinical fellows are on call at all times.
“The patients have our cellphone numbers, as well as the next of kin,” he said.
Broaching the subject with patients and families requires tact and compassion. Most patients are enrolled in clinical trials and learn about the autopsies from their doctors or pathologists such as Dr. Hooper. Many are willing, even eager, to cooperate, she said.