What is an autopsy, and why is it done?
An autopsy is a medical exam of a body after death. It is done to find out how and why a person died. A doctor (pathologist) who specializes in examining body tissues and fluid usually performs an autopsy. What exactly is done during an autopsy depends on the circumstances of the death and what specific issues are being looked at. An autopsy begins with a careful exam of the outside of the body. This may include taking pictures of the body, weighing the body, and noting any marks on the body. When examining the inside of the body, the doctor may remove organs and take tissue samples. He or she may look at these samples under a microscope and do tests to look for disease, infection, or drugs in the body. For more information about how an autopsy is done, see the topic Autopsy.
