autopsy what can they tell us?. definition and purpose postmortem examination purpose -help...
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AUTOPSY
What Can They Tell Us?
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Definition and Purpose
• Postmortem examination
• Purpose -help determine why (cause of death) and how (manner of death) the person died
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Preparing for the Autopsy
• 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
• 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
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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
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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)
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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
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AutopsyProcedure
Written report is prepared that addresses the autopsy findings
After autopsy is complete – legal death certificate is signed
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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
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Autopsy Results• Unnatural death-
death resulted from an unnatural, unusual, or suspicious caused
• Homicide• Suicide• Accident (fire, • drowning)• Undetermined
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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
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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
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Methods to Determine The Time of Death
• Body Temperature• Fall at rate of one
degree per hour• Obesity and warm
environment slows cooling
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The End