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To the Editor.—
Despite recurrent pleas, mediocre writing still permeates the medical literature. An example appeared recently in the Archives (113:179, 1977) when an author reported that "six patients underwent autopsy." No mention was made whether informed consent had been obtained from the patients before they underwent autopsy. In particular, were the patients informed of the usually dismal prognosis for recovery after such a procedure? This novel approach, if substantiated, may have long-reaching implications for the improvement of medical care.