Autopsy assistant (Obductieassistent)
Information on this skill...
An autopsy assistant is responsible for various activities that have to do with internal and external examination of deceased persons. In most cases, an autopsy assistant will work under the supervision of a pathologist, but an autopsy assistant also works independently depending on the work. As an autopsy assistant, you support the pathologist in investigating possible causes of death of people, by performing various activities such as taking blood, taking fluid and taking tissues. You also make incisions to make cut-outs possible for research. These different activities may be necessary to be able to determine afterwards whether the diagnoses turn out to be correct. The various activities are generally not carried out alone, but together with a pathologist. Other important tasks for which an autopsy assistant is responsible are filling out and handling administrative forms and checking administrative forms. In all cases, the work of an autopsy assistant should be seen as supporting activities of the pathologist. Informing medical specialists, analysts, visitors and funeral directors is also generally part of the work of the autopsy assistant. Obviously, the profession of autopsy assistant will have to suit you because it concerns very delicate work. Working accurately and hygienically is also important to prevent the spread of germs. Autopsies are performed for scientific research or for judicial investigation. In judicial investigations, there is usually a criminal offence or a suspicion of a criminal offence.
An autopsy assistant is therefore responsible for supporting work that has to do with necropsies. In general, an autopsy assistant will work within a hospital's autopsy room or work within a morgue. In short, we can best describe the work of an autopsy assistant as performing autopsies. It is the pathologist who specializes in pathology as a doctor, and it is the pathologist who studies how a certain disease originated and progressed in patients. It is also the pathologist, who is called in for forensic examination when the cause of death of people has to be determined. As an autopsy assistant, you support the pathologist in these various activities and are therefore not a medical specialist yourself. The work of an autopsy assistant is therefore supporting work. A pathologist who works within hospitals is also called a clinical pathologist. A clinical pathologist is responsible for making diagnoses through tissue and cell examination. For this, a pathologist can also work together with analysts and laboratory technicians, who work within a hospital laboratory.
WHAT DOES AN AUTOPSY ASSISTANT DO
An autopsy assistant is responsible for various activities. Think, for example, of checking whether diagnoses made of deceased persons turn out to be correct afterwards, of administrative work, of investigating damage to the body and of informing other stakeholders, such as funeral directors, surviving relatives, medical specialists and any judicial employees. Other important tasks of an autopsy assistant are to comply with hygiene rules to prevent contamination and spread of germs. In other words, it is the autopsy assistant that ensures that the necropsy tables, the work materials and the various instruments are cleaned so that no contamination can take place. The preparation of all forms for organ donation is also part of the work of the autopsy assistant. As described earlier, this all involves supporting activities.
DIFFERENCE IN AUTOPSY AND SECTION
There is no difference between autopsy and section, as both terms refer to an autopsy. The purpose of the autopsy also does not matter with regard to the term that will be used. An autopsy or section can be performed for various reasons such as for scientific research, being able to determine the cause of death or, for example, to make organ donation possible.
ACTIVITIES OF AN AUTOPSY ASSISTANT ARE:
- The care of the deceased;
- Assisting with mourning visits;
- Assisting the pathologist during autopsies;
- Supervising the municipal medical examiner or police officers;
- Checking the data (registration and identification);
- Receiving the deceased;
- The transfer of deceased to funeral directors;
- Processing the administration.
WHAT DOES AN AUTOPSY ASSISTANT DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME AN AUTOPSY ASSISTANT
Becoming an autopsy assistant is only possible by following the MBO course Autopsy Assistant, which is not offered by all MBO schools. The training to become an autopsy assistant will generally take one year and consists of four modules, namely the module hygiene and safety during the necropsy, the module necropsy of the chest and abdominal cavity, the module tissue and organ preparation and the module necropsy of skull and spinal cord. The training to become an autopsy assistant is a combined training of working and learning. The post-mortem care training can also be regarded as a suitable training and will usually also be expected.
COMPANIES WHERE AN AUTOPSY ASSISTANT CAN BE EMPLOYED
An autopsy assistant works in a hospital morgue, in which the autopsy assistant works together with the pathologist or assistant pathologist. An autopsy assistant may also work within a mortuary. In that case, the name mortuary employee applies. A mortuary employee is responsible for caring for and dressing deceased persons. The professions of autopsy assistant and mortuary employee can therefore not simply be compared with each other because they differ in content.
COMPETENCES AUTOPSY ASSISTANT
The most important competence of an autopsy assistant is a sense of responsibility because it concerns people who must be treated with respect. In general, the word care can therefore be regarded as an important competence. Communication should also be regarded as an important competence because you usually have to deal with different medical specialists and other professionals. You will also need to have sufficient knowledge of anatomy. Generally important words are cooperation, accuracy, planning, independence, hygiene, analytical, regulations, laws and regulations, precision, discipline, control and stress resistance. Finally, it is important to mention that the work must suit you.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS AN AUTOPSY ASSISTANT
The labour market perspective as an autopsy assistant is generally good if you have the right training. Since it is a specific training, obtaining work will usually not be a problem. The career opportunities as an autopsy assistant are generally limited because no real further education is offered within the profession of autopsy assistant.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY AUTOPSY ASSISTANT
As an autopsy assistant, you will generally fall under the collective labour agreement for hospitals, in which the terms of employment are regulated. An autopsy assistant will generally earn a salary between 1850 and 2650 euros gross per month, depending on age, education and further responsibilities.
The content on this page has been automatically translated from the Dutch language. For this reason, texts and videos on this page may contain small errors.
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