An autopsy, also called a post-mortem examination, is a detailed and careful medical examination of a person's body and its organs after death to help establish the cause of death. The word autopsy is derived from a Greek word autopsia meaning 'seeing for oneself'. A physician, called a pathologist, who specialises in the study of human diseases, performs the autopsy. Surgical techniques are used to remove and examine each organ, and some tissue samples are selected for microscopic examination or other special tests as required. (A small tissue sample is typically about 0.5cm thick).
An autopsy is usually carried out within 48 hours after the death of a person. An autopsy can be hospital-based (non-coronial) or coronial. Coronial autopsies are ordered by the state coroner, whereas hospital based autopsies may be performed at the request of the family of the deceased.
Autopsies will usually include testing for any infections (microbiology), changes in body tissue and organs (anatomical histology), and chemicals, eg medication, drugs or poisons (toxicology and pharmacology).
In certain circumstances an autopsy might not be carried out if the coroner and a forensic pathologist can decide the cause of death from medical history and a police report.
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