Referring a baby for autopsy can be a complex task, especially in the context of caring for a bereaved family.
The Victorian Perinatal Autopsy Service (VPAS) will assist you with information that you may need, and help organise the autopsy.
Step 1
Ring the VPAS Perinatal Autopsy Coordinator for assistance with autopsy enquiries or to initiate the referral of a baby for perinatal autopsy. Phone number: 1800 841 024.
We will:
- provide you with support in discussing autopsy with families
- assist you with completing the paperwork and collating the clinical information
- assist you in preparing the baby, placenta and paperwork for transfer to the VPAS pathology laboratory
- organise transportation of the baby to autopsy
- be a point of contact for families during the transportation and autopsy process and ensure reports are available for follow-up appointments.
Step 2
Refer to the checklist on page 10 of the Combined VPAS document pack (PDF, 469Kb). Complete each step in the checklist.
Step 3
Send the VPAS Perinatal Autopsy Coordinator the completed paperwork via:
- Secure email link provided by the VPAS Perinatal Autopsy Coordinator.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Perinatal Death (MCCPD), also known as the death certificate, is a critical document, for
- the autopsy, and
- the process of the baby receiving a funeral and being buried or cremated.
Please ensure:
-
You are completing the MCCPD and not an adult death certificate.
-
That this isn’t a referral for the Coroner. VPAS autopsies are different to coronial autopsies. If this baby’s death is not being investigated by the Coroner, this question needs to be answered with NO
-
You have checked the spelling of names, that the identification details are correct and that they match the identifiers on the consent form that accompanies the baby.
-
Check the place of death is correct. Sometimes the doctor still has their log in from their previous hospital location, which is then auto-populated in the form.
-
Cause of death must be listed.
-
If the baby is coming for a post-mortem of any kind (full, limited or external), than answer ‘yes’ a PM is being performed.
-
You have entered the correct hospital name, which is the one that is referring the baby for autopsy.
-
The doctor completing the death certificate has their AHPRA number documented and must use their organisational email.
-
The declaration page has been completed and included in the printout that is sent to the lab (which will also be used by the funeral provider following the post- mortem)
- The Consent for perinatal post-mortem examination form (PDF, 102Kb) must be given to families during a conversation with a senior clinician. The family need to have the options and processes explained to them. They need time to consider their decision and ask questions.
- The family should be given written information about autopsy. Please provide the family with these documents: Deciding if your baby should have a post-mortem examination (English) (PDF, 185Kb) and Your baby's post-mortem examination (English) (PDF, 150Kb).
- To download those two documents in languages other than English, visit VPAS forms.
- An interpreter should be used, if needed.
- If you require further support to ensure you have what you need to undertake this important conversation, please call VPAS on 1800 841 024.
- You can also watch the below video we have created to assist you in preparing for this conversation:
- Remember, a baby who is a registered birth has a separate identity to the mother. Please remember to identify the baby with baby and maternal identification bands.
- The identifiers on the band need to be checked and correct.
- The identifiers on the consent form for perinatal post-mortem need to be correct and must match those on the baby’s labels.
- Please see: Patient Identification Framework - VPAS (PDF, 262Kb)