Basics
1. How are the videos organized?Hide
Each autopsy is divided into 1-5 minute video parts. These can be watched in order to view the entire case. Or, accessed via the search function, Body Map, History, Clinical Panels, or other search modes. Study individual cases, narrow searches to content of specific interest, or compare across the database.
2. How do I access the different search modes?Hide
Find the different search modes under “Features” in the top menu.”
3. How do I find a specific anatomic structure?Hide
Go to the Body Map page. Search for your structure by region. There is also an experimental page in development which lists all the Anatomy Pins on the site alphabetically. This is an advanced user page. Please contact us if you wish to get set up with access.
4. Is there a way to know what’s inside any video before playing it?Hide
Yes. Each video has a “What’s inside” list of search terms. Find this to the right of the top video on any case page. Feel free to view the list before playing the video. In some cases, the “What’s inside” list is put into an interactive format. (In other cases, there is an evidence-based learning activity to the right of the video.) The case image also provides information. Often, you can tell if we’re working on the external exam, general opening, organ block or individual organs.
5. How do I access a video?Hide
There are several ways to access video.
-Use the Library.
-Select a body region from Body Map.
-Select the case number from the History.
-Select a topic from the Clinical Panels.
-Select by anatomic variation from the Anatomic Variation page.
-Instructors can select from low, medium and high complexity cases via the Case Selector. The Case Selector is found on the For Instructors page.
6. Are there tutorials?Hide
Yes. You may find a page tour, tutorial videos and a skill-check on the Tutorials page.
Audio
1. Why do some videos have sound and others do not?Hide
Autopsy.Online is a training site. This means some cases for early training have a lot of site support — extensive audio discussion and explanations, discussion questions, reasoning activities, etc. Students earlier in training can start with these cases (called “low independence” cases).
Other cases have little or no audio. These are for when the student is ready to meet the patient independently — like in real life. Make assessments strictly from your own observations and the clinical history. These advanced cases are called “high independence” cases.
4. Why is the audio not always clear?Hide
The cases are not produced for the site. They are actual autopsies where the family has authorized recording. The physician is often speaking through a heavy plastic face shield — required as a personal protective device. This affects audio quality. Please be sure to turn on Closed Captions to assist with any audio.
5. How do I turn on closed captions.Hide
Click [cc] in the lower right of the video to turn on closed captions.
2. How do I find a case with more or less audio?Hide
To find cases with extensive in-room (recorded audio or voice-over explanatory audio) go to the Libary. Find the “By Audio” option. Select “In-room explanatory audio” or “Voice-over explanatory audio” or both. Then click Search. The cases that appear will have the audio option(s) you select.
Also, the top of the History page has a key showing how to identify cases by the amount of audio (extensive, some, little or no audio).
Lastly, instructors can use the Case Selector on the For Instructors page. The Case Selector sorts cases by “low independence” to “high indepedence.” Low independence cases have a lot of audio. High independence cases have little or no audio.
3. Most of the audio is either conversational or explanatory recorded during the case. Is there any “voice-over” audio explaining what’s happening? Hide
Yes. Most of Case 1 has a second audio option of “voice-over” explanation. The top video is “in-room” audio. The top video is called the “Listen-in” version. The second video down from the top has voice-over step-by-step explanation. This second video from the top is called the “Educator” version.
AI policy
1. How is AI used on the site? Hide
AI (Artificial Intelligence) has a restricted role on the site. AI is used to generate the voices you hear for voice-over explanatory audio. However, humans generate the words being said. The content is completely human-generated. Only the “person” speaking the words is generated by AI. Autopsy.Onlne has a commitment to providing a real-case experience while making use of technologic advance. The in-room audio will always be available on the case page, so you can hear the actual sounds and any discussion during the case.
2. Why do we use AI for audio voice-over explanation? Hide
In-room recorded audio is often of variable quality or absent. This is because these cases are actual autopsies requested by actual families. The autopsies are not performed in order to be on the site. They are performed to help families in grief. During the consent process, some families agree to have their loved one’s autopsy recorded so that others may learn. This is how a case can appear on autopsy.online. The physician’s focus is the case. So, sometimes, the physician is just working and not explaining. Sometimes the physician is explaining but is wearing a heavy fume mask, or there are other sounds in the room — running water, etc. — that affect the quality of the audio. To help our viewers understand what is happening during the case, we have an audio option by voice-over. We generate the words. But, for comfort and a human-like experience, the speaker is AI.
3. Is AI used in any video generation or production.Hide
No. Videos footage is recorded, edited and otherwise produced with standard recording, editting and production technology that does not make use of AI. This is an important principle and promise of the site. The exception is AI audio voice-over.
Tech and Site Use
1. How will I login?Hide
There are multiple login options.
-Login through an Institutional Code plus your email (or username) and password.
-The site is also compatible with SSO/SAML (Shibboleth, Open Athens, etc.).
-The site is also accessible via EZProxy.
-The site can also be placed onto Chromebooks, on-site computer stations and other individual devices (with or without additional login).
2. I have an Institutional Code from my school but can’t login. Why?Hide
Please take these steps:
-Make sure you have the correct Institutional Code. If you do not have it, your school will be able to provide it to you. We cannot provide you with you Institutional Code directly.
-Make sure you have the correct email or username.
-Make sure you have the correct password. If you are not sure, please use the “Lost your password?” link below the login.
-Please contact us right away if you have difficulty. The site security is robust and we may need to look at your account or send you a password reset link.
3. Is the site compatible with SSO/SAML (Shibboleth, Open Athens, etc.)Hide
Yes.
4. Is the site accessible via EZProxy?Hide
Yes.
5. How many devices can I log into with my subscription?Hide
You may log in to one device at a time. You may log in to any device anytime. However, if login to one device and then login to a second device, you will be logged out of the first device. For example, if you login on mobile, and then login on desktop, you will be automatically logged out of mobile.
Please contact us if you wish to set up multiple-device or institutional access.
6. How many browsers can I log into on one device?Hide
You may login to one browser at a time. You may log in to any browser anytime. However, if you have one active login on one browser and then login to a second browser on the same device, you will be logged out of the first browser. For example, if you login on Chrome and then login on Firefox on the same device, you will be logged out of Chrome.
Please contact us if you wish to set up multiple-device (multi-browser) or institutional access.
7. Can I download video?Hide
No.
8. Are there closed captions?Hide
Yes. All videos have English closed captions (unless there is no audio). Closed captions are turned on by default. Turn off (or back on) closed captions, by clicking “CC” in lower right of video. Use for quiet viewing without sound or to assist with audio. Audio can be variable due to site circumstances (background noise, physician use of fume mask, etc.). We recommend leaving closed captions on.
9. Are there foreign language subtitles?Hide
All videos have Portuguese subtitles. Other languages are coming (in progress). Some videos have Spanish or Arabic. Please let us know if you wish to suggest specific language for subtitles and we can consider.
10. Where can I find a copy of the Terms of Use I agreed to during checkout?Hide
The Terms of Use may be found here.
11. Where can I find a copy of the Privacy Policy?Hide
The Privacy Policy may be found here.
12. What types of devices can I use (mobile, table, desktop)?Hide
The site is accessible on all types of devices: mobile, tablet and laptop/desktop. The site is streamlined on mobile device. Additional features are present on tablet or larger (interactive video, anatomic variation, anatomy pin page, etc.). If you are on mobile, we recommend switching settings to “Desktop View” or a larger device to access all the features.
13. What browsers are recommended?Hide
Chrome or Microsoft Edge are preferred browsers.
More about our video
1. What is Interactive Video?Hide
Interactive video is a duplicate copy of a video that you can edit. You may mark the video and add a notes. Your note appears in a column on the right. Clicking on the note jumps to the point in the video where you added the note. Interactive video is for institutional group work — students work together with synced video like anatomy lab groups.
2. How do I login to interactive video?Hide
-Select the Interactive Video option on any case page or from the Features menu.
-Select the case you wish to view.
-Enter your email and username when prompted.
3. Which cases do you video-record? Or do you video-record all of them?Hide
We only video-record cases when the legal next of kin authorizes video-recording. We do not make that choice. The patient’s and family’s privacy and confidentiality are our priority. The case will not be video-recorded without consent. We typically ask the family during the consent process if they wish to video-record for education. For some cases, we will not make the request (for example, cases under criminal investigation or children).
4. Can families opt out of video-recording?Hide
Yes.
5. How do you protect confidentiality during video-recording?Hide
If we are video-recording and live streaming at the same time, we prepare the body before video-recording by covering the face, written identifiers (name tags and case numbers) and other visual identifiers (tattoos). During the case we do not disclose case identifiers (patient name, age, unique case details). The case facility and location are not disclosed. If we are video recording but not live streaming, we edit the video after the case and before publication to remove any case identifiers.
6. Who chooses to video-record?Hide
Families who want to participate in health education or believe their loved one valued health education have chosen to video-record the case for education. Other families who have not been able to participate in organ donation have sought video recording for educational purposes as an alternative to “make a difference” for the future. Every family is different and chooses for reasons unique to them.
7. Who watches our content?Hide
Our video recordings are open to all subscribers. At times, we share clips with the general public.
The trade-off with real
1. Are cases produced for site?Hide
No. Cases are performed at the request of families for their closure and peace of mind. During the consent process, we gently ask if families wish also to allow us to record for teaching. The focus during the case is the case and the family, not the recording.
2. How does the case being real affect the video?Hide
We always put the patient first. Sometime we may pause a video when it interferes technically or end the video when we prefer to focus only on the casework. It is not a goal to video the case from start to finish. We do as much as we can while focusing on our patient care goals. (See also other FAQ’s in the section.)
3. Why do some cases use still photos while others don’t?Hide
Case photos are sometime available for a case. If these show something of teaching value, we will incorporate this into the cases to share with you. Not every cases will have photographs to share. We make use of any consented, available teaching material, whether videographic or photographic. This means the content on the site will vary in visual style. Our goal is not perfect production. It’s to let the body teach in whatever way it can. We’re honored the families have given us permission to share whatever it is we have.
4. Why don’t some of the organ photographs have rulers?Hide
We cannot show you rulers with labels in order to protect the patient confidentiality. Sometimes the label will be blurred out and you will see the ruler. Other times, we will crop out the ruler during editing and focus on the specimen. The ruler is there but outside the frame. It’s to protect the confidentiality. Again, the purpose of the case is not to produce it for our viewers. It’s to perform a medically sound cases for the family. And then we work with what we have to bring you this gift from the family.
5. Why doesn’t each case have medical records?Hide
Our patients come to us in many different ways — from “the field” or a hospital or elsewhere. The family typically does not have medical records with them right when their loved one has died. We start by obtaining the history from the family. Sometimes we are able to access records, and we share these with you. But most of the time, we cannot. Think of it like being an emergency room provider. You won’t always have the medical record when the patient walks in the door. Managing medical uncertainty — making the best decisions with limited information — is an important skill the site values and teaches. What part of the history the family provides seems reliable? How could you tell? What is your differential diagnosis of a condition when lacking certain clinical information? Can you generate a list of question you’d need to get you farther? We consider these skills a strength of the site. You’ll need them with your real patients. Practice here.
6. Why are some parts of the videos blurry?Hide
Videos are blurred at certain points to prevent exposure of patient identifiers that may appear during a case (labels, name tags, tattoos, etc.).
7. Why don’t you provide ages of the patients?Hide
We do not provide the age to protect the patient confidentiality. Instead, we use general terms (middle-aged, elderly, etc.).
Culture, diversity, background
1. Why does the site identify race in the patient history?Hide
We are aware of the evolving use of race-based terms in medicine. We are sensitive to the dissolution of meaning of these terms in patients with multiracial backgrounds; as well as the significance of these terms in discussions of health care disparities. We leave these terms in to leave open the door for a variety of important discussions, including consideration of larger cultural issues and self-reflection on bias and comfort. Educators using our platform in the classroom setting may choose to explore student attitudes and biases towards patients of different backgrounds.
2. How does Autopsy.Online support diversity, equity and inclusion?Hide
Read our statement on diversity, equity and inclusion here.
