Public opinion reflects new stance
Autopsies are performed by forensic pathologists. These are medical doctors who specialize in forensic science and undergo numerous years of training.
The goal of this post-mortem examination is to determine how and why a person has died. These are often conducted when bodies are found under suspicious circumstances, but can also be done under other circumstances.
While in the vast majority of cases a medical examiner or coroner is able to determine the cause of death, in certain circumstances an autopsy is required.
These include suspicious accidents, death by fire, homicide, and pilots who died in airplane crashes.
These professionals can be helped by others, such as forensic mortuary technicians or anatomical pathology technologists. The level of education and experience of these vary, depending on the country and even region.
Unlike the spooky dark and cold rooms we sometimes see in movies, real autopsy rooms are purposely built to conduct autopsies. They are usually well lit, well ventilated, and comfortable enough to work in.
While most autopsies are conducted in a room, sometimes they have to be performed at the location where the corpse is found. This usually happens when there is a high level of decomposition and moving the corpse could damage it.
Sometimes bodies are exhumed for autopsies to be performed. In other circumstances, a location to perform autopsies is usually set up on site when lots of people die, for instance victims of a large natural disaster.
Though there are a few tools that are purposely built for the task. Your average surgeon will probably not have as many hammers and electric saws at hand when performing a surgery. Skull chisels are another good example.
Unlikely tools, such as garden shears, are also used. "What we have is a combination of surgery implements and common garden tools and kitchen appliances," explained pathologist Jeffrey Nine.
Autopsies are very similar to surgeries, so many tools are similar. You’d find tools such as scalpels and forceps, as well as sterile containers, in an autopsy room.
The preparation for an autopsy starts by going through all the post-mortem notes. Forensic pathologists read through all the information about the person, including when and where the body was found, and what the person was doing at the time of death.
Before they start dissecting the body, pathologists must analyze all the external elements and evidence from the scene.
If there is a police investigation, these professionals are briefed before they perform the autopsy. This is particularly important in murder investigations, as pathologists might have to link weapons to wounds.
Sometimes these signs of trauma are an indicator of the cause of death (e.g. a gunshot or stab wound), though this is not always the case.
They then move on to inspect the body. They look at the clothing, the state of decay, the teeth, and then they look for any sign of trauma and wounds.
This is when the fun begins for forensic pathologists. A Y-shaped cut is usually performed on the chest to gain access to the main organs. Alternatively, an I-shaped cut, from chin to the groin, is performed.
When the autopsy on its own can’t reveal details of the cause of death, a further toxicology analysis can help determine it, particularly in cases of poisoning.
Samples of various organs, tissues, and fluids in the body are then collected and analyzed.
The brain is then carefully removed and inspected for signs of damage or injury. It might be kept whole, or it may be sliced during the process.
Following the autopsy, the body is then carefully put back together. A viewing or an open casket funeral might be planned, so it’s very important that the reconstruction is neatly performed.
Sources: (Grunge)
If everything else fails, then dental exams and DNA tests are performed. This can sometimes help match a body to a missing person's database, for instance.
Autopsies not only can help solve crimes, but they can also help identify medical conditions that were never diagnosed while the person was alive. This can be particularly helpful in hereditary conditions, where the family may benefit from the information.
Many corpses are unidentified when they are found. To help with the process, photos of their clothing, jewelry, or any unique marks on the body, including tattoos, are taken in an attempt to help identify the victim.
Each organ is then weighed and documented. Specific organs such as kidneys, lungs, the heart, and bladder are analyzed to detect the presence of drugs and toxins.
Autopsies are not as gory as you might imagine. Because the heart is no longer beating, the cuts barely bleed.
The brain is also analyzed during an autopsy, though it’s the hardest organ to reach. The scalp is cut and pulled back, then pathologists have to cut through the skull.
There are in fact four different processes to remove and inspect the organs. Organs can be removed one by one; they can be sliced while still in the body; they be removed in groups; and, finally, an en masse approach can be taken, where all organs are removed at once.
What really happens during an autopsy
How much do you know about this post-mortem procedure?
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Autopsies are indeed an important procedure when it comes to post-mortem examinations. Without autopsies, many causes of death would have never been identified, and many crimes would remain unsolved. Though autopsies are not always required, there are circumstances where one is needed. But when, and how, exactly? Click through the following gallery to find out.