Test Overview

An autopsy is a thorough medical examination of a body after death. It may be done to learn about a disease or injury. Or it may be done to find out how or why a person has died.

An autopsy is done by a doctor called a pathologist. This type of doctor is an expert in examining body tissues and fluids.

Family members may ask for an autopsy to be done after a loved one has died. This is called a requested autopsy. Sometimes an autopsy is required by law. This is called a required autopsy.

Why It Is Done

Requested autopsies

Deciding to have an autopsy can be hard for families who have just lost a loved one. Counsellors or spiritual advisers who specialize in grief services may be able to help families through the process. Family members may ask for an autopsy:

• When the reason for the death may be an unknown medical problem.
• If there are questions about a sudden death that appears to be from natural causes.
• If there are concerns about genetic problems that family members may also be at risk for.
• When the death occurs without warning during a medical or dental procedure.
• When the cause of death could affect legal matters.
• When the death occurs during experimental treatment.

Required autopsies

An autopsy may be required by law in deaths that may have medical and legal issues. They include deaths that:

• Are unexpected. This may include the sudden death of a healthy child or adult. Or it may be the death of a person who was not under the care of a doctor.
• Are a result of any injury. Examples include a fall, a car crash, a drug overdose, or poisoning.
• Are suspicious, such as a suicide or murder.
• Have happened under other conditions defined by law.
• May help health experts find and track a disease or possible public health hazard. (For example, they might look for signs of a contagious disease or one spread through food or water.)

How To Prepare

If an autopsy is required by law, the coroner or medical examiner can legally have it done without the consent of the person's family (next of kin). But if the autopsy isn't required by law, the family must give their consent. Most often, a consent form must be signed in front of a witness.

Special permission will be needed if there's a request to remove organs or tissue for donation.

If a family asks for an autopsy, the consent form usually describes the details of the autopsy. It should clearly state if organs and tissues will be saved or used for teaching. The family should make sure that they fully understand these details.

If the family requests an autopsy, they may ask that it be limited to certain parts of the body. Make sure that what you request will allow the doctor doing the examination to answer your questions about the death.

How It Is Done

Before the autopsy

First, as much information as possible is gathered about the person who died and about the events that led to the death. This includes looking at medical records and talking with the person's doctors about known medical problems. Depending on how the person died, the police and the medical examiner's or coroner's office may be involved. They may talk to family members and study the area where the person died. They will learn as much as possible about the death.

During the autopsy

A doctor (pathologist) closely examines the entire body. In some cases, X-rays are done.

The doctor takes tissue samples from different parts of the body and looks at some of them under a microscope. Some samples are tested for drugs, infection, or genetic problems.

Risks

There are no risks from the actual autopsy. But an autopsy may reveal troubling new information. For example, the doctor may find cancer during the autopsy. Or the results of a liver test may show cirrhosis from the overuse of alcohol.

Results

The results of some tests from the autopsy may not be ready for several weeks. That's why a final written report may take weeks or even months. The doctor may talk to the family after the autopsy and then again after the final report is complete.

After doing the autopsy, the doctor will often state if the manner of death is natural or unnatural.

• A natural death means the death was caused by a disease or from the natural effects of old age.
• An unnatural death means the death was caused by something unexpected, unusual, or suspicious. Unnatural manners of death are homicide, suicide, accident, and "undetermined." These deaths are most often investigated by the medical examiner or coroner.

After an autopsy

In most cases, the cuts made during an autopsy will not show after the body has been prepared for viewing.

A written report describes the autopsy findings. This report may provide the cause of death. And it may help answer questions from the police and the person's doctor or family.

Requested autopsy.

The doctor who cared for the person before the death often signs the death certificate. He or she may complete it before the results of a requested autopsy are known.

Required autopsies.

The pathologist, coroner, or medical examiner notes the cause and manner of death and then signs the death certificate.