The Covid-19 pandemic is currently a major global public health problem. We know that the elderly and people with chronic diseases contract the infection more easily and they develop clinically more serious and often lethal forms. To date, the reasons for this have been generically attributed to old age and underlying diseases. Most Covid-19 deaths occurred in long-term care facilities because the residents are elderly people with chronic illness living in close contact. Therefore, facilities have become epidemic outbreaks. Forensic knowledge is very limited because an autopsy is rarely performed. Post-mortem investigations can help increase knowledge about Covid-19 and identify any undiagnosed pathologies in life. Therefore, forensic investigations play a role in protecting a frail population. Autopsies should be encouraged on elderly people who died of Covid-19.
The silent deaths of the elderly in long-term care facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic: The role of forensic pathology
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
			
			
			
		
		
		
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
						
							
							
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
			
			
				
				
					
					
					
					
						
							
						
						
					
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			
			
		
		
		
		
	
Scalise C.;Sacco M.;Bonetta C.;Zibetti A.;Cacciatore G.;Caputo F.;Ricci P.;Aquila I.
	
		
		
	
			2020-01-01
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic is currently a major global public health problem. We know that the elderly and people with chronic diseases contract the infection more easily and they develop clinically more serious and often lethal forms. To date, the reasons for this have been generically attributed to old age and underlying diseases. Most Covid-19 deaths occurred in long-term care facilities because the residents are elderly people with chronic illness living in close contact. Therefore, facilities have become epidemic outbreaks. Forensic knowledge is very limited because an autopsy is rarely performed. Post-mortem investigations can help increase knowledge about Covid-19 and identify any undiagnosed pathologies in life. Therefore, forensic investigations play a role in protecting a frail population. Autopsies should be encouraged on elderly people who died of Covid-19.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.


