Susan Shelmerdine: Radiology’s Role in Humanising Mortality
Susan Shelmerdine, Roentgen Professor at The Royal College of Radiologists, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Anubix, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Radiology’s Role in Humanising Mortality
Excited to share a newly published letter in BMJ, co-authored with Natasha Davendralingam, highlighting the crucial role radiology plays in providing compassionate and empathic care during death investigations.
What inspired this letter?
Several recent BMJ pieces explored the concept of demedicalising death, focusing on palliative and community care.
While these discussions were insightful, we wanted to emphasise and raise awareness that radiology also has a vital role through postmortem imaging, providing a non-invasive alternative to traditional autopsies and providing comfort and closure to the bereaved.
Main messages:
Postmortem imaging provides grieving families with timely and dignified answers without the need for invasive procedures.
Challenges persist, including funding gaps, accessibility issues, and a lack of standardised education in this field.
More investment is needed to expand postmortem services and promote this niche skill.
Read the letter:
- Radiology’s role in humanising mortality
- Facing death differently: revolutionising our approach to death and grief
Articles that inspired the letter:
- Facing death differently: revolutionising our approach to death and grief
- Death doulas could lead end-of-life care
- End-of-life care needs decolonising
- Demedicalising dying: medicine must accept death as a natural part of life
Thanks to the authors for their inspiring articles.”
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