Autopsy
(Post Mortem Examination, Obduction)

Medical Revising Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, M.D.
Medical Revising Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD

• What is an autopsy?
• How is an autopsy performed?
• Who determines whether an autopsy is 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.

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Last Editorial Review: 2/9/2007