autopsies

An autopsy is a post-mortem examination performed by a pathologist to determine the cause and manner of death, document disease processes, and identify injuries or anomalies. Autopsies may also provide information about hereditary conditions relevant to surviving relatives and contribute to medical knowledge and public health.

There are several types of autopsies. Clinical (medical) autopsies aim to understand a patient’s illness and why death occurred, while forensic (medico-legal) autopsies investigate deaths under suspicion of foul play, unexplained or unattended deaths, or deaths in custody. Some institutions also conduct research autopsies with consent.

Procedure typically begins with an external examination to record identification, wounds, and body habitus. The body is opened systematically to inspect and weigh organs, which may be removed for histological examination, toxicology, microbiology, and imaging. Post-mortem imaging such as CT or MRI is increasingly used to guide dissection. The brain is sometimes examined separately or subsampled, depending on the case and jurisdiction.

Consent and authorization vary by jurisdiction. Hospital autopsies usually require informed consent from the next of kin; forensic autopsies are authorized by law or court order. Cultural and religious beliefs influence acceptance in many societies, and respectful handling of the deceased and confidentiality for families are core ethical considerations.

Outcomes include confirmation or correction