Postmortem Examination

Abstract

Each of the methods that are to be or have been discussed this morning deal with the methods and approaches to provide a pool of information which, when accurately interpretated, really indicate one of three or four things. First, a list of diagnoses to be considered. And if you have a list, then obviously you need to find out more before you can decide which one on the list is the diagnosis. Secondly, it may indicate a provisional diagnosis, which most of us operate by. You know, we make a judgment decision aand then go. Third, the diagnosis, or the right one or the right two or however many things are involved. Actually a diagnosis in clinical practice is truly an intermediate goal. The ultimate goal, it seems to me in clinical practice, is to use the diagnostic decision to determine a rational and economically feasible management or therapeutic scheme to solve whatever the diagnostic problem is.