Clinical Scorecard: The Language of Autopsy, and How to Translate It

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Autopsy reports are often too technical for families to understand.
• Generative AI can create accessible summaries of autopsy findings.
• Current solutions often involve family meetings, which can lead to confusion.
• CAP reporting standards dictate the complexity of autopsy reports.
• AI-generated summaries can address common family questions effectively.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Management

• Utilize plain-language guidelines for patient-facing health materials.

Monitoring & Follow-up

Risks

• Technical density of reports may lead to misunderstanding without proper translation.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Families of individuals who have undergone autopsy

AI-generated summaries can improve understanding of autopsy findings.

Clinical Best Practices

• Maintain high diagnostic standards while simplifying communication.
• Use structured frameworks for summarizing autopsy reports.
• Incorporate glossaries for medical terms in summaries.

Related Resources & Content

• Stanford School of Medicine
• CDC Plain Language Guidelines