Must I go thru an Autopsy after I die?

Question

I really hate that, to have a coroner open me up just because I am dead...

I just want 2 keep my remains complete

Answer 1

DO try very hard, then, not to die under, uhh, "interesting" circumstances", because those ones that will have people giving you the most detailed physical examination you'll EVER have.....

IIRC, in the US, coroners/medical examiners may demand autopsies when suicide/homicide is suspected, when death is sudden and the person has NOT been under medical care recently, or when death appears accidental.

Where there are religious objections to autopsy (as is the case with really Orthodox Jews, as one group that comes to mind), "the law of the land is the law". The coroner can and will demand an autopsy, but it's not unusual for a religious observer to be present during the examination as a sign of respect to the deceased. Everything that's not needed by the labs is returned to accompany the corpse (including the blood-stained gloves and table drapings). "TOO MUCH INFORMATION" ALERT FOLLOWS-----









I've *heard* the gloves, drapes, even be sewn up within the abdominal cavity of the cadaver after autopsy in religious cases, to comply with the desire that all possible blood, tissue, etc. be returned, but am not certain my informant wasn't teasing a bit. He's otherwise reliable.....Any forensic people or undertakers here?

Answer 2

An autopsy is ordered if there is any suspicion about your death, or if it was an accident or there are any "unknowns" about the death. Unfortunately, if the coroner or medical examiner orders an autopsy, no one can override their decision, you will be autopsied even if your family doesn't want you to be. The coroner/medical examiner always has the last say in who will be autopsied. If the coroner/ME says he doesn't need to do an autopsy, but the family insists, then the family is responsible for covering the costs of the autopsy. Hope this helps. God bless!

Answer 3

In the case of a 'sudden death', a 'suspicious death' or a 'death by accident' or 'suspected murder', the coroner will most likely call for an autopsy and in most such circumstances most certainly will. In UK, he also has the right to call for an autopsy on anyone who dies under the same circumstances in another country if the body is returned to UK. If a person has been visited by their General Practitioner, usually in the previous two weeks and is being treated for an illness, the doctor may issue a death certificate without a post-mortem examination. It used to be quite obscene when I had to witness them, but now it is much, much better. There is nothing to fear in having one, as you are most certainly dead .........................

Answer 4

It depends on the circumstances of your death. If it's simply natural causes, it's less likely that you'd have an autopsy. If they have to figure out how you died or why you died, then it's more likely you would have one.
It's better to have a coroner open you up after you're dead then before you're dead.

Answer 5

NO, if you die a "natural" death, they hospital will ask if an autopsy is wanted. If you die because of an accident or other "unnatural" : ways then the state decides.

Answer 6

Autopsies are not usually performed unless there's some question about the cause of death, or foul play is suspected. Also there's some religions that don't allow it.

Answer 7

If you die under suspicious circumstances, then yes they have to. But if you die of natural causes, they generally don't preform an autopsy.

Answer 8

Sorry, your consciousness will be gone and there won't be a 'you' to worry about it.... There's no proof that dust and "dead" molecules have a consciousness. The autopsy will help others live, indirectly.

Answer 9

The coronor will open you up to look inside only if you die an un-natural death. So just make sure that you die a normal death.

Answer 10

Isn't that up to your family? If they know the reason why you died then why would they need an autopsy