About: Alberta Family Requested Academic Autopsy.
Consent for Autopsy, Alberta Health Services (FORM)
To be completed by the legal representative in consultation with the physician.
Alberta Health Services, 2 pages, pdf

LINK: Autopsy Consent and Consultation Request.
https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/22/frm-20597.pdf
Physician Requesting, Medical Examiner contacts, Consent by spouse or executor.
Alberta Precision Labs FORM), 4 pages, pdf

LINK 3: RAPAUR18075 Client Resource – Autopsy Requests Guideline.
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/lab/
if-lab-autopsy-requests-guideline-edmonton-and-north-zones.pdf
Required Documents, Preparation for Transport, Flow Chart for Autopsies,
---- Contacts, References, Adult Autopsy Coverage Map
------- FMC (Vital Statistics) 403-944-1689 --- Fax: 403-944-2683
Effective Date: 12/2/2022 --- 6 pages, pdf

LINK 4: Laboratory Bulletin.
Procedures: South Zone Autopsy Referral to Calgary Lab Services
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/lab/
wf-lab-bulletin-south-zone-autopsy-referral-to-calgary-lab-services.pdf
To ensure documented notification of autopsy referral to CLS, timely referral & same day autopsy service.
October 4, 2017 --- 4 pages, pdf

TEAM
ATSSL -- Advanced Technical Skills Simulation Laboratory
Jaime Cowie joined the lab in 2020.
She provides professional administration of the CSM Body Donation Program.
She handles donated cadaveric specimens for the purposes of embalming and preparing for use
in medical educational programs, and organizes the internment ceremony every two years.
jaime.cowie@ucalgary.ca

Technicians:
Stephanie Jaunin (design, policies, planning, support, maintenance and repair),
Stephanie Sellan (Special Procedures Lab and the Surgical Skills Lab, specimens for medical educational sessions),
Veronica Rasheva (realistic and immersive simulations for medical training and education)

I spoke with JAIME COWIE on 2023-09-20 (Wed) who is the Administrator for the Body Donation Progam.
She was very knowledgeable and helpful; a real Gem.
The autopsy in question was the Family Requested Autopsy
and now, since early 2022, is referenced as a Family Requested Academic Autopsy.
For southern Alberta (including Lethbridge), such an autopsy would be done at Foothills Medical Centre (Calgary).
An Alberta Precision Labs FORM would need to be submitted soon after the death .. to
The Vital Statistics and Admissions department .. 1-403-944-1689
A Will by the deceased would be beneficial; the form could be completed beforehand and signed after the death.

Part of the autopsy might be done at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute for the Brain Donation Bank (crainial tests).

From the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Website:
https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/

“Steps to follow after a patient's death:

1. Call Vital Stats at FMS (403-944-1689) at Foothills Medical Centre and notify them
that the family or next-of-kin request an autopsy. Vital Stats at FMS will arrange for the body
to be transported from the location in Calgary to the Foothills Medical Centre.

2. Complete the Alberta Health Services Consent for Autopsy form (pages 2 and 3)
(https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/frm-20597.pdf)
with the next of kin (Autopsy Consent and Consultation Request (albertahealthservices.ca))

• In the "Consent for Autopsy" section check the first box
--- ‘I consent to bodily tissue and organs removed at autopsy being kept for future medical education and research’
under ‘Consent for Retention of Organs/Tissue for Education and Research’.

• On page 2, in the "Signatures" section the next of kin should sign under
--- ‘Authorized Representative’ and have a witness sign their name.

• Send the completed consent form with the body or fax the consent to
Vital Stats at FMS, 403-944-1689 --- Fax: 403-944-2683.
(https://www.servicealberta.ca/includes/768.cfm)

An autopsy is an examination of the body after death.
The autopsy is done by a pathologist: a medical doctor who is specially trained in this type of procedure.
An autopsy is done as soon as possible after death and takes about 2 to 4 hours to perform.
The autopsy may be done on the entire body, which is a complete autopsy, or it may be limited to one area of the body.

In a complete autopsy, samples of most organs are taken and are examined under a microscope to look for diseases such as cancer or infection. Other diseases that run in families can also sometimes be diagnosed.

In a limited autopsy, the pathologist may only examine the organs specified at the time of consent.
This may answer certain specific questions, but may limit the identification of other diseases that might answer clinical questions or be of interest for family history.

In some cases, the law requires that an autopsy be performed.
When an autopsy is not required by law, consent must be obtained from the legally authorized representative of the deceased.

The main purpose of an autopsy is to answer questions the family or doctor(s) may have about the illness, the effects of treatment, cause of death and/or other medical conditions. Knowing the cause of death can be a source of comfort to families. The information learned through an autopsy increases medical knowledge and may help others with similar conditions.

Usually there is no charge for autopsies on patients who died within the Calgary Zone.

The autopsy report is sent to the physician that requested the autopsy.
Family can request that a copy also be sent to the family physician who can discuss the autopsy findings with them
and possibly provide them with a copy of the Autopsy Report.