The Department of Pathology of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) offers autopsy services to families of decedents who have died while admitted to another health care institution or who have died at home. These cases are presumed to be deaths due to one or more disease processes rather than traumatic deaths (that are routinely evaluated by the county medical examiner).

In the case of an in-patient death at another institution, we request that the autopsy consultation process and paperwork be coordinated by the decedent’s attending physician, a pathologist at that hospital, or another hospital representative. The autopsy cost is typically borne by the institution in which the patient died.

In the case of an “at-home” death, coordination of the consultation process often rests with a family member. We strongly encourage assistance from the decedent’s personal physician and/or the physician’s office staff. The autopsy cost is typically borne by the family. We will presume that jurisdiction was declined by the county medical examiner, or that he/she declined to order an autopsy.

Contact a Decedent Care Specialist at the number below. Decision to accept a case is made on a case-by-case basis after communication with the autopsy service director or designee.

If the case is accepted for autopsy examination at UIHC, the person coordinating the autopsy request must adhere to all applicable items in the checklist (see links below).  

Forms:
Checklist UIHC Autopsy Service Consultation
Adult Outreach Postmortem Request Form
Pediatric Outreach Postmortem Request Form
Postmortem Inventory of Clothing & Personal Effects

Contact Information:
Phone: (319) 467-7000
Fax: (319) 467-7007

Address:
200 Hawkins Drive - E140 GH
Iowa City, IA 52242

Consultants:

Dennis Firchau, MD
Autopsy Director
Office:  5232-A Roy Carver Pavilion
Phone:  319-356-0885
Email:  dennis-firchau@uiowa.edu


Marcus Nashelsky, MD
Office:  5244C Roy Carver Pavilion
Phone:  319-353-7594
Email:  marcus-nashelsky@uiowa.edu


Stephanie Stauffer, MD
Office:  5216-B Roy Carver Pavilion
Phone:  319-384-8606
Email:  stephanie-stauffer@uiowa.edu