Learn More About Autopsies

An autopsy is a specialized medical procedure that allows for highly detailed examination of all the major organs and tissues both grossly (meaning with the naked eye) and microscopically.  As an analogy, I often say that if a person's lifetime is a movie, an autopsy is taking a single still image from the end and putting it under a microscope.  The amount of information that a skilled forensic pathologist can gather during an autopsy is enormous. 

With rare exceptions, an autopsy will not change whether a person can or cannot be viewed.  The procedure is done with care and respect for a person's earthly remains, and most funeral homes have experience with autopsies.  So viewings are typically still possible.

Toxicology is specialized testing that looks for drugs and other substances and then determines their concentration.  For most private autopsies, toxicology testing is not necessary, but we consider each case individually and can help you decide how to proceed.

This is a question that we get a lot.  The short answer is, it depends.  When done well, an autopsy and ancillary testing is the best way to determine cause and manner of death.  If you have questions or doubts about a loved ones cause and manner of death, then an autopsy is probably going to be helpful.