Can an Organ Donor Have an Autopsy?

Can an autopsy be performed if an individual has donated his/her organs?

Organ procurement for organ transplantation is a separate procedure that is performed by a surgical team in the operating room. Donating organs does not preclude the performance of an autopsy. In this case, the autopsy is performed in the autopsy suite after organs have been procured or removed by the surgical team. Of course, the organs which were removed for transplantation cannot be included in the autopsy examination. Sometimes the pathologist or medical examiner will attend the procedure or the operating surgeon will provide a report of findings for the doctor responsible for the autopsy.