"In the 1950s, about 50% of patients who died in a hospital in the U.S. received an autopsy. Today, that figure is in the single digits, which is a big loss according to two people who care a lot about this topic: One is Dr. Alex Williamson, an forensic and pediatric pathologist who performs autopsies and talks to families of the deceased about what he learned in the process."
"The other is Sam Ashworth, a novelist who went looking for a storytelling device and found an obsession. This week, both men explain why autopsies are important and what they can teach us about living. Sam Ashworth's novel The Death and Life of August Sweeny is available now. This episode was produced by Cameron Drews. Get more Death, Sex & Money with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of DSM and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts."
Autopsy rates in U.S. hospitals have declined from about 50% in the 1950s to single digits today, reducing opportunities to determine causes of death and to learn from fatalities. Dr. Alex Williamson is a forensic and pediatric pathologist who performs autopsies and communicates findings to families, offering medical clarification and emotional closure. Novelist Sam Ashworth investigated autopsies as a storytelling device and developed a lasting obsession with their implications. Both emphasize that autopsies can reveal diagnostic errors, deepen medical knowledge, and teach lessons about living. Sam Ashworth's novel The Death and Life of August Sweeny is available now.
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