autopsy is a systematized examination of a body to determine the cause and manner of death and to assess any pathologic changes that may be present. The body is examined both externally and internally in order to discover and document disease or injury, following review of the medical history. Specimens of internal organs are retained for microscopic examination and body fluids are obtained and tested for drugs and alcohol.

Some states (including California, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island) have laws restricting autopsy − especially on religious grounds. The impetus for this legislation has come largely from Orthodox Jews, whose religion prohibits mutilation after death. Some cryonicists have joined The Society for Venturism (a cryonics "religion") to avoid autopsy.

There are two ways to make a diagnosis for QT syndrome. The first is to check if the QT-interval on the ECG of a suspected patient is prolonged. Because the heart stopps beating when death occurs, this possbility is out of question - except an ECG of the dead person already exists, of course. The only possibility would be to check body fluids of the dead person - in this case blood - for the known gene mutations that cause QT syndrome.

The county of appointment (where death occurred). The family is not charged for an autopsy when one is requested as outlined above. However, when an individual's death does not fall under the County Medical Examiner's jurisdiction, the family may arrange for a private autopsy. The costs and arrangements for private autopsies are the responsibility of the requesting party. No.

When reasonable doubt about the cause or the circumstances of death exists or for other legal purposes, an autopsy will be performed by the Medical Examiner. In some cases, an autopsy is not necessary because the deceased has documented natural disease that is likely to cause death and the circumstances surrounding the death support his known disease state. In those cases an external examination is performed.

autopsy may answer certain questions, which may not be answered without the examination. It is up to the discretion of a medical examiner to perform an autopsy. Most medical examiners have determined that autopsies should be performed on all cases involving criminal violence, homicides, suicides and accidents; also sudden death, when in apparent good health, unattended by a practicing physician, in police custody, prison or other penal institutions; and suspicious or unusual circumstances.

The primary medical examiner for the case will decide if an autopsy is necessary to establish the cause and circumstances of death. We may not perform an autopsy if the cause of death can be determined to be from "natural causes" and the deceased has a physician who knows the medical history and will furnish us with an acceptable probable cause of death.

In situations where the death appears to be the result of natural causes, there is no evidence of foul play nor is there evidence to support that the death is anything other than due to natural causes, one can decline an autopsy. In cases where the actual cause of death is unclear or due to unusual circumstances, such as homicide, suicide or where concerns of foul play are raised either by others or law enforcement personnel, an autopsy can be ordered, by law, by the Medical Examiner.

No - there is no charge to the family for autopsies performed under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction. Families pay nothing for the State Medical Examiner's services or for the transportation to Anchorage for autopsy and return to the place of death. The State Medical Examiner does not pay for embalming or other services provided by a funeral home. back to top

Not always. If the death is a "Natural Death" and the deceased has a physician who knows the medical cause of death and will furnish the Coroner with an acceptable cause, the Coroner will normally not perform an autopsy.

No. The decision to perform an autopsy is made by the forensic pathologist on call. An autopsy is not normally performed when the death is known to be a result of natural causes, sufficient medical history exists and there are no signs of foul play. Many deaths investigated by the Medical Examiner’s Office that are not ultimately autopsied are deaths when an individual has no personal physician who is available or willing to sign his/her death certificate.