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Forensic autopsy costs in the city of São Paulo.

CONTEXT
Modern medical practice involves cost analysis of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. There are no papers dealing with this theme in relation to forensic autopsies in our country.


OBJECTIVE
Analysis of direct costs of forensic autopsies.


TYPE OF STUDY
Cost analysis.


SETTING
São Paulo Medical Examiner's Central Office.


SAMPLE
Year 2001 activity.


PROCEDURES
Routine forensic autopsies. MEAN MEASUREMENTS: Analysis of direct costs of personnel and material.


RESULTS
Cost of personnel represents 90.38% or US$ 93.46. Material expenses comprised 9.62% or US$ 9.95. Total costs were calculated to be US$ 103.41.


CONCLUSIONS
Forensic autopsies have a high cost. Cases to be autopsied should be judiciously selected. Our results are similar to international studies if data are rearranged based on the number of annual necropsies.