An autopsy, or post-mortem, is a detailed medical procedure performed on the body of a dead person primarily to determine the cause of death, identify or characterize the extent of disease states that the person may have had, and/or determine whether a particular medical or surgical treatment has been effective. Autopsies also help doctors to learn more about the human body and to discover new ways to save other lives.

Autopsies are usually performed by pathologists, doctors who have received specialty training in the diagnosis of diseases by the examination of body fluids and tissues.

An autopsy can provide the following information:

• Identity of the deceased person

• Time of death

• Cause of death

• Determination about whether the death was natural, accident, homicide, or suicide

• Nature and extent of any disease currently or formerly in the body

• Nature and extent of any injury just before death or suffered in the past

• Circumstances surrounding the person’s death

• Information about the effectiveness of a particular medical or surgical procedure (usually in an effort to train doctors and prevent other deaths)

• Sometimes, an autopsy is performed to assist the police and the justice department to discover clues for criminal proceedings.

Reasons for an Autopsy

An autopsy is ordered for one or all of the following reasons:

• Suspicion about the person’s death

• Legal requirements needed to assist an investigation

• Public health concern, such as in the case of a mysterious death

• Isolated death, for example when person dies unattended by a physician

• Incomplete death certificate, when the physician is unwilling to sign it

• Investigation about any medical condition that was not apparent during life

• Verification of medical diagnosis

• Genetic or infectious disease analysis, in effort to help other members of the family

An autopsy can be requested by any close family member, especially the next-of-kin or a legally-responsible party. Specifically, anyone can write to the coroner and ask for an autopsy. A physician cannot order an autopsy on a patient without the consent of the next-of-kin but a medical examiner can order an autopsy without consent. Forensic autopsies are autopsies with legal implications and are performed to determine if the death was an accident, homicide, suicide, or a natural event.

In academic institutions, autopsies may be requested for teaching and research purposes; however, consent must be obtained from the next-of-kin before an autopsy is performed, even at academic institutions or hospitals.

Autopsy Procedure

Before conducting the procedure, the pathologist reviews the medical record of the patient, witness statements, and all other pertinent information surrounding the death. First and foremost, the person’s body is treated with respect at all times.

Next, the pathologist examines the external body of the deceased and looks for any clues about the cause of death. The surface of the skin is examined along with the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Scars and artificial tattoos are noted because these details can sometimes assist in confirming the person’s identity. Many internal diseases in the body present with changes that appear in the skin, so a detailed external examination of the body can be vital when moving on to the internal examination.

The internal examination of the body is carried out as an extended surgical technique. The examination takes place in an area similar to an operation room, using instruments that are the same as, or derived from, surgical instruments. When the internal organs are examined, required samples are taken for further examination. These examinations may include the following types:

• Anatomical histology, to test for changes in body tissues or organs

   

• Microbiological, to test for infection

   

• Chemical, to test for involvement of any drug or poison

Specimen collection analysis may be very significant in reconstructing how the death occurred, and in many cases, may even reveal the cause of death. Tissue is also collected for histological analysis.

The entire autopsy procedure usually takes approximately two to four hours and the extent of autopsy can be limited to one or two organs, depending on the specifics of each case. A standard autopsy procedure includes complete examination of the chest, abdomen, and brain.

Autopsies are usually performed free of cost because they help doctors to learn more about a particular illness and discover ways to treat diseases more effectively.

Upon completion, an autopsy report outlines the results of the autopsy findings together with the results of any additional tests that may have been performed. In forensic cases, this report is forwarded to the coroner. 

A coroner is a magistrate, or lawyer, not a medical practitioner, who makes the final determination as to who the deceased person was, where and when they died, how they died, and the cause of their death. The findings of the pathologists form a very important part of the coroner's investigation of the death and the pathologist is often closely involved in giving evidence at any subsequent inquest.

The initial findings of an autopsy are usually ready within two to three days, but it may take a few weeks to get the final report because it requires many detailed studies to be performed on tissue samples. If any drugs or poisons were involved, it may take weeks for body fluids and tissues to be completely analyzed.

If the family members wish to have a copy of the autopsy report, they can submit a request letter to receive it.

Many family members are concerned that an autopsy procedure may interfere with the funeral services. Typically, however, an autopsy does not interfere with burial or cremation procedures. An autopsy is done as soon as possible so that the funeral proceedings will not be delayed unnecessarily.