an autopsy allows his colleagues to look inside a body and actually determine the precise cause of death. It is the medical equivalent of a black box. This has rather obvious implications for progress. After all, if the doctor turns out to be wrong in his diagnosis of the cause of death, he may also have been wrong in his choice of treatment in the days, perhaps months, leading up to death. That might enable him to reassess his reasoning, providing learning opportunities for him and his colleagues. It could save the lives of future patients.
