Use Of Coronial Post-Mortem Tissue For Research In New Zealand

Forensic pathology is remarkably under-represented in research: considering the obstacles a researcher must overcome to obtain post-mortem tissue for research, it is perhaps not surprising. We are investigating whether there is any role for altered drug metabolism in potentially fatal clozapine-associated myocarditis and/or cardiomyopathy. As part of this research, the use of postmortem tissue taken during a coronial autopsy from individuals who have died from, or with, these clozapine-associated cardiotoxicities was considered fundamental. Currently, there is no clear pathway for using coronial postmortem tissue for research in New Zealand. We have worked through the Coroners Act 2006 (NZ), the Human Tissue Act 2008 (NZ) and the medicolegal death investigation process in New Zealand to use coronial postmortem tissue for research. The process to obtaining tissue(s) in New Zealand is probably representative of pathways in other coronial systems.