Autopsia (ancient Greek)= to see for oneself Autos = Oneself Opsis = Eye also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy

y (particularly as to non-human bodies), autopsiacadaverum, or obduction. is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination (usually by a Pathologist) of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. Purpose? To determine the cause of death; The state of health of the person before he/ she died; Whether any medical diagnosis and treatment before death was appropriate For the purposes of teaching or medical research Four main types: 1. Medico- Legal Autopsy or Forensic (or coroners) autopsy Seeks to find the cause and manner of death and to identify the decedent. Generally performed, as prescribed by applicable laws, in cases of violent, suspicious or sudden deaths, deaths without medical assistance or during surgical procedures. 2. Clinical or Pathological Autopsy performed to diagnose a particular disease or for research purposes. Aims to determine, clarify, or confirm medical diagnoses that remained unknown or unclear prior to the patients death.

3. Anatomical or academic autopsies are performed by students of anatomy for study purpose only.

4. Virtual or medical imaging autopsies performed utilizing imaging technology only, primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT)

Medico- Legal or Forensic Autopsy

Used to determine the cause of death. involves the application of the sciences to answer questions of interest to the Legal System.

Main Objective: is the investigation of sudden, suspicious, obscure, unnatural, litigious or criminal deaths. Particular objectives of forensic autopsy: To identify the body and to assess the size, physique and nourishment. To determine the cause of death. To determine the manner of death (suicide, homicide or accident) and the time of death, where necessary and possible To demonstrate all external and internal abnormalities, malformations and diseases. To detect, describe and measure injuries. To obtain samples (blood, urine and tissues) for microbiological, histological and toxicological analysis. To retain relevant organs and tissues as evidence. To obtain photographs and video films for evidential and teaching use . Recovering, identifying, preserving evidentiary material Provide interpretation and correlation of facts related to death Provide factual, objective medical report

The following manner of death should be autopsied: 1. Death by violence 2. Accidental deaths 3. Suicides 4. Sudden death of persons who are in good health 5. Death unattended by physician

6. D.O.A. With no clinical diagnosis 7. Death occuring in an unnatural manner. Stages of Medico-Legal Investigation 1. Crime Scene Investigation - investigation of place of commission of the crime -place where the essential ingredients of the crime took place. 2. Autopsy -investigation of the body of the victim. -comprehensive study of a dead body, in addition to the external examination Mistakes in Autopsy 1. Error or omission in the collection of evidence for identification 2. Errors or omission in the collection of evidence required for establishing the time of death. 3. Errors or omission in the collection of evidence required for the medico- legal examination 4. Errors or omission result in the production of undesirable artifacts or in the destruction of valid evidence. Negative Autopsy . -After the autopsy, cause of death is still unknown Negligent Autopsy -cause of death is still unknown because of so many errors committed during the autopsy.

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 856 December 23, 1975

CODE ON SANITATION

Section 95. Autopsy and Dissection of Remains The autopsy and dissection of remains are subject to the following requirements:

(a) Person authorized to perform these are:

1. Health officers;

2. Medical officers of law enforcement agencies; and

3. Members of the medical staff of accredited hospitals. (b) Autopsies shall be performed in the following cases:

1. Whenever required by special laws;

2. Upon orders of a competent court, a mayor and a provincial or city fiscal;

3. Upon written request of police authorities;

4. Whenever the Solicitor General, provincial or city fiscal as authorized by existing laws, shall deem it necessary to disinter and take possession of remains for examination to determine the cause of death; and

5. Whenever the nearest kin shall request in writing the authorities concerned to ascertain the cause of death (c) Autopsies may be performed on patients who die in accredited hospitals subject to the following requirements:

1. The Director of the hospital shall notify the next of kin of the death of the deceased and request permission to perform an autopsy.

2. Autopsy can be performed when the permission is granted or no objection is raised to such autopsy within 48 hours after death.

3. In cases where the deceased has no next of kin, the permission shall be secured from the local health authority.

4. Burial of remains after autopsy After an autopsy, the remains shall be interred in accordance with the provisions in this Chapter.