Medicolegal autopsy--what, why and how

Abstract

By the term autopsy means medicolegal autopsy, though there is another one called clinical autopsy. The term is synonymous with postmortem examination. Autopsy is conducted to ascertain the cause of death, manner of death, time since death, to establish the identity of the deceased and so on. As per Mysore Police Manual Order No 1380, a civil surgeon or medical officer or other qualified registered medical person approved by the State Government is entitled to conduct an autopsy. Generally an autopsy is conducted by medical officer concerned on requisition from concerned authority in any unexpected, unexplained, unnatural, suspicious or sudden death. Autopsy is conducted at the body in its entirety and the mutilated body or skeletal remains. After having complied with the medical and legal obligations, eventually the medical officer has to furnish his opinion based on examination findings and investigation results.