Specimen Requirements

Notify the Pathology Office at MaineGeneral Medical Center of autopsy request. Contact Augusta Campus at 207-626-1409 or Waterville Campus at 207-872-1158.

 

Medical-legal cases must be reported by the physician signing the Death Certificate to the State Medical Examiner’s Office (800-870-8744) before seeking autopsy authorization from next-of-kin. If there is any question that a case might be medicolegal, it is the policy of MaineGeneral Medical Center to notify the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Note:  1. A signed and witnessed “Autopsy Consent Form” and Death Certificate are required prior to requesting an autopsy.

2. The “Autopsy Consent Form” must contain the signature of the highest ranking survivor in next-of-kin lineage which is listed below in decreasing order of responsibility:  1) spouse, 2) adult children (≥18 years of age, and all must agree with the consent), 3) parents (both must agree with the consent), 4) adult brothers and sisters (all must agree with the consent), 5) legal guardian or any other relative.

3. Consent must be provided by highest ranking survivor in next-of-kin lineage. It is the responsibility of the physician to obtain permission of the autopsy from next-of-kin.

4. Prior to autopsy the attending physician must provide a clinical abstract or speak directly with the pathologist who will be performing the autopsy.

5. The patient’s chart, including the “Autopsy Consent Form,” Death Certificate, and clinical abstract, must be delivered to the Pathology Office at MaineGeneral Medical Center.