AUTOPSY

1
AUTOPSY

• What Can They Tell Us?

2
Definition and Purpose

• Postmortem examination
• Purpose -help determine why (cause of death) and
  how (manner of death) the person died

3
Who Can Do An Autopsy?

• Is generally performed by a pathologist a doctor
  with training and expertise in the examination of
  body tissues and fluids

4
Who Can Do An Autopsy?

• Medical examiner's or coroner's office - the
  governmental office responsible for investigating
  deaths important to the public's health and
  welfare.

5
When An Autopsy MUST Be Performed

• 1. Sudden or unexpected death
• 2. Under suspicious circumstances
• 3. As a result of an injury
• For these reasons, consent of next of kin is not
  needed

6
Reasons for Autopsy

• Determines which disease or injury caused the
  death
• Confirm or exclude a diagnosis made before death
  help understand how a disease progresses
• Genetic Testing
• Evaluate possible public health issues

7
Preparing for the Autopsy

• If autopsy is not required by law, it cannot be
  done until the next of kin gives permission
• Consent form must be signed in the presence of a
  witness
• Review records and medical history

• I, (printed name) ________________ the
  (relationship to the deceased) ____________ of
  the deceased,
• ________________, being entitled by law to
  control the disposition of the remains, hereby
  request the
• pathologist of (name of hospital)
  _________________________ to perform an autopsy
  on the body of said deceased. I

8
Autopsy Procedure

• External physical exam
• 1. Body tag
• 2. Weighed and measured
• 3. Clothing and valuables are identified and
  recorded
• 4. Scars, tattoos, injuries, wounds, and bruised
  are recorded on a body diagram
• 5. Foreign objects noted

9
Autopsy Procedure

• Photes and Xrays are taken
• Complete internal exam done
• 1. Dissection of head and abdomen
• 2. Organs removed, weighed, measured, and
  examined (some organs are placed in formalin
  which is a preservative)

10
Autopsy Procedure

• Internal exam (continued)
• 3. Tissue samples examined under a microscope
• 4. Fluid samples taken and tested for drugs and
  infectiom
• Blood from heart
• Vitreous gel from eyes
• Bile from gallbladder
• Contents of stomach
• Urine

11
AutopsyProcedure

• Written report is prepared that addresses the
  autopsy findings
• After autopsy is complete legal death
  certificate is signed

12
Autopsy Results

• Final report may take weeks to months as
  specialized tests are completed.
• Natural death death occurred as a result of a
  disease or from the natural effects of old age

13
Autopsy Results

• Unnatural death- death resulted from an
  unnatural, unusual, or suspicious caused
• Homicide
• Suicide
• Accident (fire,
• drowning)
• Undetermined

14
Methods to Determine Time of Death

• Traditional Indicators
• Rigor mortis
• Begins 3 hours after death in face and eyelid
  muscles
• Takes 12 hours to affect entire body
• Process reverses after 36 hours

15
Methods to Determine Time of Death

• Lividity (Hypostasis)
• Pooling of blood and fluid in a deceased body
  after death in dependent or lower portions
• Visible 30 -60 minutes after death
• Red cells settle and skin belows turns red or
  purple
• In 6-10 hours, color becomes permanent

16
Methods to Determine The Time of Death

• Body Temperature
• Fall at rate of one degree per hour
• Obesity and warm environment slows cooling

17
The End