The resident discusses each case with the supervising faculty member or medical examiner prior to its dissection, including documentation of relevant medical/legal information, the approach to the autopsy, and procurement of tissues for toxicology and special studies. The faculty members and pathologist assistant supervise gross room operation. Junior residents are closely supervised and perform all initial autopsies with a supervising faculty member or the pathology assistant. More senior residents are allowed more independence for hospital cases. They discuss the case with the faculty and may call them down for interesting and unusual findings. All pertinent pathologic findings are reviewed and discussed at the completion of the case. However, the medical examiner is present for and conducts all forensic cases. The faculty pathologist is responsible for the final diagnoses of all autopsies.
The on service teaching faculty members are physically present during standard operating hours; faculty members not physically present are rapidly available by phone or pager. At all times, a supervising faculty member is on-call for evening and weekend questions. No diagnosis is communicated to the clinicians before a faculty member has evaluated the case.