Pediatric Autopsy

The Pediatric Pathology division of the Pathology Department at UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) performs autopsies for Children’s Health as well as fetal/perinatal autopsies for UTSW associated hospitals (William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital) and Parkland Hospital. Children’s Health also accepts consultation autopsies of fetal/perinatal patients from the surrounding hospitals that wish to provide a comprehensive evaluation of congenital anomalies.

In addition to examining the cause and manner of death, pediatric autopsies often must unravel complicating factors of developmental anomalies and complications of prematurity. Many of our patients’ parents wish for their child’s death to contribute to the knowledge foundation of their underlying disease in hopes that we can provide better care for the next child with the same condition.

The post mortem examination is performed by a pediatric pathologist along with a pediatric pathology fellow and a UTSW resident.

Children’s Health Pastoral Care helps to coordinate with the clinical physicians, family, and funeral home for Children’s Health cases as well as consultation autopsies from outside the UTSW system.