Scribd
Upload
12 views17 pages

Autopsy

The document provides a comprehensive overview of autopsy, including its definition, types, purposes, and procedures for conducting medico-legal autopsies. It details the external and internal examination processes, the significance of negative autopsies, and the protocol for reporting findings. Additionally, it discusses the concept of second autopsies and the circumstances under which they may be requested.

Uploaded by

ADITI JHA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views17 pages

Autopsy

The document provides a comprehensive overview of autopsy, including its definition, types, purposes, and procedures for conducting medico-legal autopsies. It details the external and internal examination processes, the significance of negative autopsies, and the protocol for reporting findings. Additionally, it discusses the concept of second autopsies and the circumstances under which they may be requested.

Uploaded by

ADITI JHA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

AUTOPSY

ANUP KUMAR
ROLL NO. 17
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
● Definition of autopsy
● Types of autopsy
● Purpose of autopsy
● Procedure for medico legal autopsy
● External and internal examination
● Negative autopsy
● Report
● Second autopsy
Definition: Autopsy refers to the systemic examination of a dead
person for medical legal and scientific purposes.
Autopsy also called post mortem examination,necropsy, thanotopsy.
Types of autopsy:
● Academic autopsy
● Pathological, hospital or clinical autopsy
● Medicolegal or forensic autopsy
● Virtual
● Psychological
● Negative
● Endoscopic and needle autopsy
Purpose of autopsy:

● Cause of death, whether natural or unnatural, and to


interpret the significance and effect of the disease present in
case of natural death
● Approximate time of death, mode of death,age of
injuries,and place of death
● Manner of death, whether accidental, suicidal,or homicidal
● Poison or weapon responsible for death in case of homicide.
Procedure of medicolegal autopsies
Instruments for autopsy examination
External examination
Clothing: they are listed and their number, labels and laundry
marks,design,stains,tears,loss of buttons,cuts,holes,blackening
from firearm discharges with their dimensions should be noted.
After autopsy,wet Clothing should be air dried,packed,sealed in
paper bags and handed over to the police.
Body length, weight,sex, race,dentition,general state,
built,development and nourishment is noted.
Following should be noted in external
examination
● Skin : rash, petechiae, color, vomit
● Face: cyanosis, petechial hemorrhage, palor, injuries
● Eyes: condition of eyelid, conjunctiva,color of sclera, pupils opacity of cornea
● Neck: bruises fingernail abrasions,ligature marks
● Thorax: symmetry, general outline and injuries
● Abdomen: distension or refraction
● Back: bedsores ,spinal deformity
● Hands : injury, defence wounds, electric marks
● Fingernail: presence of tissue, blood, dust,foreign matter
External injury characterized by

● Type, nature of injury


● Size
● Shape
● Site
● Direction of application of force
● Direction of wound from the heel
Internal examination
It is convenient to start the examination with the cavity chiefly
affected. Three major cavities of the body: skull, thorax, and
abdomen.
Skin incisions:
● I Shaped incision
● Y shaped incision
● Modified Y shaped incision
● T shaped or bucket handle incision
Examination proper

● Abdomen and pelvis


● Chest: lungs and heart
● Neck
● Skull and brain
Negative autopsy

In about 2 to 5% of all post mortem examination cases, the cause


of death remains unknown,even after all laboratory examinations
including biochemical,virological,microscopic,and toxicological
examination.
Reason for negative autopsy:
● Inadequate history
● Inadequate internal and external examination
● Insufficient laboratory examination
● Lack of toxicological analysis
● Lack of training of doctor
Report
After completing the post mortem examination a complete and concise report
should be written in duplicate using carbon papers
One copy is given to the investigating officer
and another copy is retained for future reference.
The report should contain a list of specimens
and samples retained for further examination.
Second autopsy
Second autopsy or repost mortem examination is the autopsy
conducted on an already autopsied body.
● There is no provision in indian law for a second autopsy.
Instance where second autopsy is requested then indication of
second autopsy.
● Relatives are not satisfied with the first autopsy
● Cause of death cannot be opined in the first instance
● Involvement of the police in concealing the facts
● Also ordered by SDM/ADM of area concerned after looking
into all the facts.
Reference:
Gautam viswas

You might also like