autopsy

The following collection of quotes comes from actual medical records dictated by physicians:

"Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year."

"On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared."

"The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983."

"The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed."

"Healthy-appearing decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful."

"The patient has no past history of suicides."

"The patient's past medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days."

"She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December."

"The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints."

"Discharge status: Alive but without permission. The patient will need disposition, and therefore we will get Dr. Blank to dispose of him."

"The patient refused an autopsy."

I can see why the patient would want to refuse an autopsy! But, spiritually speaking, I dare not refuse. In fact, an autopsy has already been performed on me (by the Great Physician) and the cause of death was found to be sin.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6)

-alan smith

Fortunately, death was not the end (nor will it be!). Those of us who are Christians are alive, not only with God's permission, but by His grace!