Citation

Yazbak FE. J. Am. phys. surg. 2005; 10(2): 51-52.

Affiliation

TL Autism Research

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

At a clinical pathological conference, a resident usually reviews the history and findings of a case, the radiologist describes the imaging studies, and the department chief leads a small discussion. The conference is then turned over to the pathologist who in a few minutes describes the autopsy findings and announces the actual diagnosis. As we file out of the hall, we are all quite confident that we know exactly what happened to the patient.With an autopsy, the diagnosis is final, and the conclusions cannot be questioned.

Those of us who examine medical records and testify in shaken baby syndrome (SBS) cases have at times been surprised and even shocked at some of the autopsies we have recently reviewed. One such autopsy sent an innocent man to jail for 7 years, and surprisingly helped to set him free.