Konsekwencje procesowe zaniechania sekcji zwłok pacjenta – glosa do wyroku Sądu Apelacyjnego w Warszawie z dnia 18 maja 2018 r., sygn. akt I ACa 92/17

Julia Stanek; Aleksandra Zbroja

doi:10.48269/2451-0807-sp-2025-2-01

Published: 2025-11-04

Vol. 37 No. 2 (2025)

Procedural Consequences of the Failure to Perform an Autopsy on a Patient Commentary on the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Warsaw, May 18, 2018, Case No. I ACa 92/17

Julia Stanek

, Aleksandra Zbroja

Section: Artykuły

https://doi.org/10.48269/2451-0807-sp-2025-2-01

Abstract

The reviewed judgment addresses a crucial issue concerning the determination of a patient’s cause of death in cases where an autopsy was omitted at the request of the deceased’s family. Under Polish law, performing an autopsy is mandatory when the cause of death of a patient who passed away in a hospital remains unclear. However, the judgment indicates that even a definitive indication of the cause of death in the death certificate does not ensure its conclusive determination without conducting an autopsy. The commentary highlights significant procedural consequences arising from the omission of an autopsy. It also emphasizes the need to clarify regulations regarding objections to autopsies and the role of medical documentation (the death certificate) as evidence.

Keywords:

autopsy , determination of cause of death , patient rights , medical law , medical documentation

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Stanek, Julia, and Aleksandra Zbroja. “Procedural Consequences of the Failure to Perform an Autopsy on a Patient Commentary on the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Warsaw, May 18, 2018, Case No. I ACa 92 17”. Studia Prawnicze. Rozprawy I Materiały Studies in Law: Research Papers, vol. 37, no. 2, Nov. 2025, pp. 9–17, doi:10.48269/2451-0807-sp-2025-2-01.

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