Mohamed Ben Taher1, Jean Pearson2, Marta Cohen3, Amaka C Offiah1,4. 1. 1 Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield , Sheffield , UK. 2. 2 Corporate Information and Computing Services, University of Sheffield , Sheffield , UK. 3. 3 Department of Pathology, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank , Sheffield , UK. 4. 4 Department of Radiology, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Western Bank , Sheffield , UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: : People's views regarding autopsy vary according to their cultural and religious beliefs. This paper aims to determine the opinions towards this procedure among Muslims resident in Libya and Muslims and non-Muslims resident in the UK. Our long-term goal is to improve autopsy rates; whether conventional or through the use of post-mortem imaging. METHODS: : 400 questionnaires were distributed to the three communities, interrogating belief about post-mortem investigations. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistics were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: : Of the 400 distributed questionnaires, there was a high return rate of 320 (80%). All groups felt that children should be buried sooner than adults(p < 0.001), but 77% of Libyan Muslims thought that children should be buried within 12 h of death compared to 16% of UK Muslims and only 7% of UK non-Muslims (p < 0.001). More non-Muslims were unconcerned about a negative impact of traditional autopsy on the dignity of the corpse than Muslims (p < 0.001) and more Muslims responded that autopsy has a negative emotional effect on the family (p < 0.001). Type of death altered what sort of investigations were desired. In the case of homicide, Libyan Muslims were less likely to prefer CT (p < 0.001) or MRI (p = 0.001). Sex had no effect on the results of the survey. CONCLUSION: : Post-mortem imaging is acceptable to both Muslims and non-Muslims in Libya and the UK, but Muslims have a significant preference for post-mortem imaging compared to autopsy, except in homicidal cases. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: (1) The ability of post-mortem imaging to preserve the dignity of the corpse is independent of religion, however, significantly more Muslims feel that autopsy has a negative emotional effect on the family of the deceased. (2) A significant majority of Muslims in Libya prefer to bury children within 12 h of death, while a delay of up to a week is acceptable in UK. (3) Muslims resident in UK have an attitude closer to that of the indigenous (non-Muslim) population and therefore, educational programmes may be successful in changing attitudes of Muslims in Libya and other predominantly Muslim countries.
OBJECTIVE: : People's views regarding autopsy vary according to their cultural and religious beliefs. This paper aims to determine the opinions towards this procedure among Muslims resident in Libya and Muslims and non-Muslims resident in the UK. Our long-term goal is to improve autopsy rates; whether conventional or through the use of post-mortem imaging. METHODS: : 400 questionnaires were distributed to the three communities, interrogating belief about post-mortem investigations. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistics were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: : Of the 400 distributed questionnaires, there was a high return rate of 320 (80%). All groups felt that children should be buried sooner than adults(p < 0.001), but 77% of Libyan Muslims thought that children should be buried within 12 h of death compared to 16% of UK Muslims and only 7% of UK non-Muslims (p < 0.001). More non-Muslims were unconcerned about a negative impact of traditional autopsy on the dignity of the corpse than Muslims (p < 0.001) and more Muslims responded that autopsy has a negative emotional effect on the family (p < 0.001). Type of death altered what sort of investigations were desired. In the case of homicide, Libyan Muslims were less likely to prefer CT (p < 0.001) or MRI (p = 0.001). Sex had no effect on the results of the survey. CONCLUSION: : Post-mortem imaging is acceptable to both Muslims and non-Muslims in Libya and the UK, but Muslims have a significant preference for post-mortem imaging compared to autopsy, except in homicidal cases. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: (1) The ability of post-mortem imaging to preserve the dignity of the corpse is independent of religion, however, significantly more Muslims feel that autopsy has a negative emotional effect on the family of the deceased. (2) A significant majority of Muslims in Libya prefer to bury children within 12 h of death, while a delay of up to a week is acceptable in UK. (3) Muslims resident in UK have an attitude closer to that of the indigenous (non-Muslim) population and therefore, educational programmes may be successful in changing attitudes of Muslims in Libya and other predominantly Muslim countries.
Authors: Ian C Simcock; Susan C Shelmerdine; J Ciaran Hutchinson; Neil J Sebire; Owen J Arthurs Journal: Nat Protoc Date: 2021-04-14 Impact factor: 13.491
Authors: Susan C Shelmerdine; J Ciaran Hutchinson; Celine Lewis; Ian C Simcock; Thivya Sekar; Neil J Sebire; Owen J Arthurs Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2021-07-15