Assessment of Racial Differences in Rates of Autopsy in the US, 2008-2017 | Health Disparities | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA Network

Assessment of Racial Differences in Rates of Autopsy in the US, 2008-2017 | Health Disparities | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA Network

Black decedents are more likely to have clinical autopsies done

Clinical autopsies conducted to clarify cause of death have declined in recent years, but Black decedents are more likely than white individuals to undergo the procedure. Looking at data from 2008-2017, scientists found that around 13% of Black decedents in the sample had had a clinical autopsy, compared to 7% of white decedents. Black individuals whose underlying cause of death was cardiovascular disease or liver disease were especially more likely to have had an autopsy done. These discrepancies underscore health disparities between the two groups, the authors suggest, since Black individuals are also less likely to have access to quality care and therefore clear diagnoses at the time of death.