Autopsies are performed to determine a person’s cause of death. This is a very in-depth exam of the body of the deceased person where every inch of the body, inside and out, is examined.
How an Autopsy is Performed
An autopsy is done for many reasons. It can be done to find cause of death in an accident. This is typically required by law, and they are also done to give families peace of mind when the death is ruled as natural causes but is not completely known.
The law requires that in any suspicious death or any death that does not show physical reasoning that an autopsy must be completed to determine the cause of death.
Autopsy literally means “see for yourself.” And in truth, this is what happens. The body is arranged on a metal table in the anatomical position. This means the body is on its back with legs straight and arms at the side. The palms are then faced toward the ceiling.
The coroner then tries to find out as much as possible about the person who died and what they were doing right before they died. This helps them determine what approach is needed to determine cause of death. Photos are then taken of the entire body. This is because some bruising shows up in certain light that does not show up otherwise.
The body is then examined on the outside for any bruising, cuts, scrapes or abnormalities. X-rays are then taken of the body to determine if there was any physical injury or any foreign objects in the person’s body. The body is then weighed and measured, and the clothing is labeled and examined.
Physical description is then taken of the person. Any birthmarks, scars, tattoos, wounds, bruises and scratches are recorded on a body chart. This is because this information can be valuable in determining cause of death.
The chest is then opened in a Y pattern through the abdomen. The organs of the chest, abdomen, pelvis and brain are examined and weighed. if there is an organ that is not correct, it is set aside in formalin for dissection. Tissue samples are taken from each organ, and blood and other fluids are examined in detail. Many lab tests are run to determine any foreign chemical or abnormality or genetic problem.
Microscopic examination is done to organs and tissue. A written report is then composed and submitted to medical records. Medical records sorts out the information and places it in order on a template. This is because each medical records department have a set order in which the information is to be presented.
Regulations:
Regulations are set forth by several agencies, and the hospital uses set regulations to create its own. If the law required the autopsy, a copy of the report is released to the police department that is investigating the death.
If the family requested the autopsy, it is notified of the cause of death. Regardless of if it was a governing body that required the autopsy or the family that asked for it, a death certificate with cause of death is created and sent to the state department of vital records. At that point, it stands as a legal and binding document, the same as a birth certificate would. Only certain people are able to access this document from this point forth.