Family health issues

The pathology investigation into a death often uncovers a range of disease processes that the deceased person and their family may not have realised they suffered from.  These disease processes may or may not have contributed directly to their death, but they may indicate a families susceptibility to a particular disease.  (Some infectious disease may also impose an immediate hazard to family or community members.)  Whilst the forensic autopsy is aimed at providing the Coroner with information regarding the cause of death, this additional health care information has important public health and family health considerations.  The medical staff of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine are keen to help families by providing them with information that they can use to enhance their own health and well being.  The family's own general medical practitioner plays a very important part in this process, and the medical staff of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine are very happy to work with the local medical practitioners to maximise the provision of health care to their patients.