Autopsy
(Post Mortem Examination, Obduction)

• What is an autopsy?
• Who determines whether an autopsy is performed?
• How is an autopsy performed?
• What other special studies may be done as part of the autopsy?
• What is the autopsy report?
• Why is the autopsy rate declining?
• What are the benefits of autopsies?
• Who pays for autopsies?
• What is the history of the autopsy?
• Should the autopsy be revived?
• Autopsy At A Glance

What is an autopsy?

An autopsy (also known as a post-mortem examination or obduction) is the examination of the body of a dead person and is performed primarily to determine the cause of death, to identify or characterize the extent of disease states that the person may have had, or to determine whether a particular medical or surgical treatment has been effective. In academic institutions, autopsies sometimes are also requested for teaching and research purposes. Forensic autopsies are autopsies with legal implications and are performed to determine if death was an accident, homicide, suicide, or a natural event. The word autopsy is derived from the Greek word autopsia: "to see with one's own eyes."

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

Who determines whether an autopsy is performed?

A physician cannot order an autopsy on a patient without the consent of the next-of-kin. A medical examiner can order an autopsy without the consent of the next-of-kin. Deaths that are investigated by the medical examiner or coroner include all suspicious deaths, and, depending upon the jurisdiction, may include deaths of persons not being treated by a physician for a known medical condition, deaths of those who have been under medical care for less than 24 hours, or deaths that occurred during operations or other medical procedures.

In all other cases, consent must be obtained from the next-of-kin before an autopsy is performed, even at academic institutions or hospitals. The next-of-kin also has the right to limit the scope of the autopsy (for example, excluding the brain from evaluation or limiting the procedure to examination of the abdomen) if he/she wishes.

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