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In the past forty years the autopsy rate in many large institutions has fallen drastically to a level of only 20-25 per cent. The large number of diagnostic errors revealed in autopsy records is in itself a cogent reason for a return to higher standards. The inhibitory effect of high cost would be modified by the use of central regional pathology services and by reimbursement from third-party insurance carriers. The end-result would be a higher quality of medical care for all patients, not excepting those in the geriatric age group.
Walter I. Hofman (Wed,) studied this question.