EPA 9: Post-mortem examination and interpretation

Description

You’ll perform postmortem examinations relevant to your role. You’ll be confident in:

• Understanding the purpose of the postmortem examination
• Taking and considering the patient’s history
• Using your knowledge of anatomy to use consistent methods of carcass examination
• Ensuring health and safety precautions are observed
• Recording relevant macroscopic findings and appropriate sampling and preserving tissues and fluids to allow confirmation of diagnosis, if required
• Understanding and communicating the cost/benefit of further diagnostic tests
• Demonstrating knowledge of common postmortem artefacts and pathological changes  
• Knowing what to do if a notifiable or zoonotic disease is suspected 

Success criteria

To show that you are proficient in post-mortem examination and interpretation, you must show consistent performance across:

• Animal species
• Clinical presentations
• Required outcomes from the examination (for example, interest vs medico-legal) relevant to your role

This includes attention to health and safety of self and others and effective communication with colleagues, clients and competent authority.

You should also demonstrate an understanding of your own abilities, including knowledge of when to seek specialist advice. 

Required competencies

This EPA aligns with the following RCVS Day One Competences:  

Veterinary capability

You need to demonstrate expertise in:

• Veterinary capability
• Clinical reasoning
• Individual animal
• One Health/public health
• Animal population care and management

Reflective relationships

• Communication
• Collaboration