In Reply.—We never conceived our letter to the editor as a formal epidemiologic study.1 Instead, we were sending a dispatch from the front lines of autopsy work during the early weeks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We do not consider exposure in the general population equivalent to exposure in morgue workers during an autopsy; we were simply providing a simple comparison to help readers understand that the risk of a properly protected morgue worker contracting COVID-19 from autopsy is slight. We agree with the authors that autopsy is an essential component of understanding this new disease. We continue to advocate for the value of autopsy in elucidating the pathobiology of COVID-19, ensuring accurate public health information for managing the pandemic, and procuring and preserving important specimens for research to learn more about COVID-19. The only way to realize these 3 benefits of autopsy is to perform autopsies. We wrote our letter to reduce confusion in a time of uncertainty and to encourage appropriately cautious autopsy pathologists to engage in their important work on patients who died with COVID-19 infection—provided that the pathologists and their staff have the necessary facility, equipment, supervision, and experience to safely and effectively conduct such autopsies. The pathologists involved in this autopsy work at academic centers should include residents in training.2 As tomorrow's pathologists will be expected to help manage the next infectious disease pandemic, it is imperative that today's pathology residents engage in all aspects of their institution's response to COVID-19, including participating in the performance of autopsies when they are conducted.
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September 15 2020
In Reply
Gregory G. Davis, MD, MSPH;
Gregory G. Davis, MD, MSPH
1Forensic Division, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
2Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Office, Birmingham, Alabama
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Alex K. Williamson, MD
Alex K. Williamson, MD
3Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
4Department of Pathology, LIJ Medical Center/Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York
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Arch Pathol Lab Med (2021) 145 (1): 7b–8.
Article history
Accepted:
August 31 2020
Citation
Gregory G. Davis, Alex K. Williamson; In Reply. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1 January 2021; 145 (1): 7b–8. doi: https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2020-0575-LE
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