If someone dies at home, is it possible for a mortuary to arrange for an autopsy? I know a lot of us here feel that although we're not willing to make our spouses guinea-pigs, we are willing to have an autopsy if that would help science... I also know that whereas maybe 40-50 years ago autopsies were pretty routine, they are not now.
Hank had made a donation of his brain to research when he was diagnosed. Are you a part of a research system now? If not, contact the closest one for advice. One advantage is that I have requested the results, so I should know for sure if this was AD or something else. I had papers on file with the mortuary, but contacted them before the death occurred to be sure they knew what to do. I also contacted OHSU to let them know and they gave me a telephone number for weekends and after hours. You need to be prepared that they need the body ASAP, so if you have the desire to sit with your DS when it is peaceful you have to give that up.
briegull, you can ask for the autopsy, but unless you are part of a research study, you will have to pay for it. And without being part of a study, it is a little hard to imagine how the autopsy results would be used. See if there are any universities nearby that might be interested.
I tried to donate my husband's brain to a teaching hospital. The paperwork and cost was overwhelming and I gave up. This was a specific program to study AD
We had been to UCLA & they had requested doing an autopsy. The mortuary took DH to them w/out problems, but I knew in advance what I would do. He was not at home, but in a care facility. There was no cost. I got a report and also knew that tissue would be sent to various research centers. It's hard, but we have to do what we can to help stem this horror.
I have been thinking about having an autopsy to see if it would be of help to future problems our children might have. After reading Dan's experience I am thinking moreso about this. Maybe there is a genetic situation involved and the family should know a history.
It is now 4:00 a.m. and have been up with DH. He needed a pain pill for his terrible back pain and somehow he ended up on the floor, not knowing for sure how he got there but he was also complaining of dizzyness. I asked him how bad was the dizzyness and he said "enough to get you in trouble". His mind seemed completly clear. I gave him a pain pill and a "dizzy pill" and settled him back in bed.
Yesterday I mentioned to him his mind seemed more clear and he agreed. I asked him if he thought he could draw a "clock face". He thought about it a minute and said he could see it in his mind and didn't look too hard to do. DD is visiting with him this morning for a couple hours and I am going to have her try some of the tests.
Under this issue who do we contact with our questions? I am in WV.