Objective:

To explore the potential of generative AI in creating family-friendly summaries of autopsy reports, thereby enhancing communication with bereaved families.

Key Findings:

• Traditional autopsy reports are highly technical and often confusing for families, leading to increased distress.
• Only a small number of best-practice recommendations address report writing, highlighting a critical oversight.
• Existing solutions, such as family meetings, often lead to confusion before resolution, indicating a need for better communication tools.
• Guidelines for patient-centered communication have not been applied to autopsy reports, leaving families without adequate support.

Interpretation:

The complexity of autopsy reports stems from regulatory requirements, complicating efforts to simplify them without losing essential information.

Limitations:

• The study did not propose rewriting autopsy reports but focused on translation to maintain integrity.
• Time constraints for pathologists remain a significant barrier to creating family-friendly summaries, limiting the implementation of this approach.

Conclusion:

The use of AI can facilitate the generation of accessible summaries of autopsy findings, potentially improving communication with families and reducing their distress.