Autopsy
An autopsy is a post-mortem examination of the body, both externally and internally, for purposes of diagnosing disease, injury, and to determine cause of death. Autopsies may include laboratory analysis of tissue, cell samples, and body fluids as well. Pathologists and forensic pathologists are the medical specialists trained to perform autopsies.
An autopsy may be ordered by the coroner or medical examiner to determine the cause or manner of death, or to recover potential evidence such as a bullet or alcohol content in the blood. Families may elect to have an autopsy performed to identify any diseases that may be inherited, thereby posing a potential risk for family members. Also, a family may authorize a hospital autopsy to determine the extent of a known disease to assess the effects of therapies that were being used to treat the disease. This would be beneficial from a medical research standpoint.
See related topics:
Interment Arrangements
Cremation
Preparation of Deceased
Embalming
DNA Sampling