FORENSIC AUTOPSY PROCEDURES
A forensic autopsy applies medical science to legal issues surrounding a body believed to have been involved in criminal activity. In most cases, the body is the most important piece of evidence left at a crime scene and requires an intense physical analysis to collect all the information it may yield.
Since the body is believed to be linked to criminal activity, the autopsy is performed under the laws of the state in which the autopsy takes place. Specific laws grant permission to perform autopsies, and family consent is not necessary.
The autopsy must be conducted by a board certified forensic pathologist licensed in the state in which he/she is practicing. Typically, partial autopsies are not conducted for fear of missing key evidentiary elements.
The office of the medical examiner/coroner generally offers the following services:
•Complete autopsy
•Identification of the body or remains
•Determination of the cause and manner of death
•Death certificate
•Factual and objective report of all findings
•Expert testimony at trial
Prior to the autopsy process, document the following with photographs:
•Opening of the body bag
•Case number/identifier
•Removal of medical intervention
During the course of the autopsy, the medical examiner/coroner has the option to dictate findings into a recorder, but this is not mandatory in the forensic autopsy process. Photographs are taken throughout the process to document any injury to the body.
Each medical examiner/coroner has a unique way of conducting a forensic autopsy; however, the format of and information sought in an autopsy rarely changes. The forensic autopsy will always begin with a complete external examination followed by a thorough internal examination.
The external examination begins with the complete examination of the body and clothing. At this time, trace evidence, such as fingernail scrapings, hairs, and fibers can be collected from the body.
All personal items, such as jewelry and clothing, are removed from the body. The items are documented and placed into bags either for transfer to the laboratory for further processing or released to the family.
The nude body is then examined for signs of rigor mortis and lividity.
At this time, x-rays may also be taken of the victim.
X-rays document injury as well as lack/absence of injury.
After the external examination is complete, the internal examination begins by creating a Y-incision on the body, with the decedent face up, going from each side of the shoulder to the middle of the chest and down the abdomen.
The chest cavity is opened and each organ is extracted and examined individually.
Each organ is weighed before altering them in any way.
After weighing, a small slice of each organ is collected and placed into a preservative for future microscopic analysis of the cellular structure (histology) and for toxicological screenings.
The brain is cut into thin even layers by slicing the whole brain vertically and in consistent narrow slices, much like slicing a loaf of bread. This allows the examiner to view the most interior portion of the brain for damage.
Samples of blood, urine, and retinal fluid are collected for toxicology screenings. In some cases, bile and stomach contents may also be collected for subsequent analysis.
The spine, neck, and thorax are also examined for signs of trauma.
Once the whole body has been examined, all the organs are placed into a bag and placed back into the cavity of the body. The body is loosely sealed for storage and subsequent transport for burial.