Hearing the word autopsy after losing someone you love can bring up hard feelings and a lot of questions. One of the first families ask is simple: what is an autopsy, and why does it happen? This guide explains the answer, the main types, and how to tell which one applies to your situation.
What Is an Autopsy?
An autopsy is a careful medical examination of a person’s body after death. A doctor called a pathologist performs it to find out what caused the death and to document any illness or injury. The findings go into a written report that families and other doctors can use to understand what happened. Knowing the types of autopsies can help you understand what has already been done and what options remain.
Medical Examiner or Coroner Autopsies
Most families hear about this type first. A medical examiner or coroner orders it when a death is sudden, unexpected, violent, or unexplained. The goal is to determine the cause and manner of death for the official record. In many cases, the state can order this autopsy without family permission.
Hospital Autopsies
A hospital autopsy may happen when a person dies while under a hospital’s care. Doctors may ask for one to better understand an illness or how a patient responded to treatment, and families can ask too. This type requires permission from the legal next of kin. Not every hospital still performs them, so it helps to ask early.
Private Autopsies
A private autopsy is one a family arranges on their own with an independent pathologist. Families often choose this option when no official autopsy took place, or when they want answers from someone with no ties to the government office or hospital involved. The pathologist works for the family and shares findings directly with them.
Our guide on how to get a private autopsy walks through the first steps.
Full and Limited Autopsies
The types of autopsies also differ in how much of the body the pathologist examines. The right scope depends on the questions your family needs answered.
- Full autopsy: examines the outside and inside of the body, including the organs
- Limited autopsy: focuses on one area, such as the heart or chest
- External examination: looks only at the outside of the body
With hospital and private autopsies, families can often discuss limits ahead of time. A pathologist can explain what each option can and cannot tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a family request an autopsy?
Yes. Families can ask a hospital for one or arrange a private autopsy with an independent pathologist.
What if an autopsy was already done?
An independent forensic pathologist can provide a second opinion by reviewing the existing autopsy report, records, and photos.
Who decides which type of autopsy happens?
It depends on the circumstances of the death. The medical examiner or coroner decides for official cases, while families decide for hospital and private autopsies.
You can find more answers on our FAQ page.
Need Help Arranging a Private Autopsy?
Forensic Pathology Services (FPS) connects families with more than 180 board-certified forensic pathologists nationwide. We handle the details, from the first call to the final report, so you can focus on your family. Contact us here to talk with our team.