WASHINGTON
– The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice today
published an article summarizing an NIJ-funded study that examines the
impact of using postmortem computed tomography (CT) scans in lieu of
autopsies.
CT scans can be used in advance of a physical examination to
determine whether to perform a full autopsy or other testing. They also
can streamline postmortem examinations without compromising accuracy,
potentially helping to meet the current demand for testing while
reducing costs.
The work described in this article was supported by NIJ funding
awarded to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and is
based on the grantee report “Evaluation of the Routine Use of CT
Scanning to Supplant or Supplement Autopsy in a High-Volume Medical
Examiner’s Office,” by Natalie L. Adolphi, Ph.D.
