Should I Have an Autopsy Done on My Loved One?

Introduction

An autopsy is a medical exam of the body after death. It may be required in cases with medical or legal issues where the medical examiner or coroner needs to be involved. These cases include:

Sudden or unexpected death, such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Death caused by an injury, including suicide, murder, an accident, drug overdose, or poisoning.
Death with suspicious circumstances.

In other cases, you may have a choice whether to have an autopsy done on your loved one. This Decision Point focuses on those cases where you can choose whether or not to have an autopsy done on your loved one.

This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor's recommendation.

Key points in making your decision

For many families, the decision about whether or not to ask for an autopsy can be hard, since you have just lost someone close to you. It may help to talk with a counselor or member of the clergy during this process. Consider the following when making your decision:

An autopsy can answer questions about why your loved one died. After your loved one is buried or cremated, it may be too late to find out the cause of death.
Only you know your thoughts and feelings about having an autopsy done on your loved one. Your religion, cultural beliefs, or ethnic background may also affect your decision.
You may or may not have to pay for an autopsy.
If you request an autopsy, you can also ask that the exam be limited to certain parts of the body. But first you may want to talk to the doctor who will do the exam. You can make sure that your request will not keep the doctor from getting the information he or she needs to answer your questions about your loved one's death.
The doctor will be very careful when doing an autopsy, and in most cases the cuts won't show. An autopsy won't prevent you from having an open casket at your loved one's funeral.

Medical Information

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.

Why might I want to have an autopsy done on my loved one?

You may think about having an autopsy done on your loved one if:

Your loved one died from a medical problem that had not been diagnosed before death.
You have questions about an unexpected death.
Your loved one died from a genetic disease or problem, and you or other family members may be at risk for getting it.
He or she died during a medical, dental, surgical, or obstetric procedure.
The cause of death may affect legal matters.
Your loved one died during an experimental treatment, and an autopsy will help doctors learn more about that treatment.
He or she died from a disease or illness, and an autopsy will help doctors better understand the disease process and how well the treatment worked.
An autopsy will help confirm or rule out a diagnosis made before death.

What should I think about before I agree to an autopsy on my loved one?

Only you know your thoughts and feelings about an autopsy. Here are some things to consider:

An autopsy is not an accepted procedure for some cultures, ethnic groups, and religions. Unless it is required by law, an autopsy will not be done unless the family allows it.
How important is it to you and your family to have the information from an autopsy? Will knowing the exact cause of your loved one's death help you, or will the process cause you more grief?
An autopsy may affect legal matters. If you are unsure about this, you may want to get legal advice before agreeing to an autopsy.
You or your family may or may not have to pay for an autopsy. Check with the hospital, nursing home, or doctor to see if there will be a charge.
If you request an autopsy, you can ask that the exam be limited to certain parts of the body. But first you may want to talk to the doctor who will do the exam. You can make sure that your request will not keep the doctor from getting the information he or she needs to answer your questions about your loved one's death.
There are no risks to having an autopsy. But it may reveal some things, such as habits and diseases, that you didn't know about the person who died. For example, the doctor may find cancer during an autopsy. Or an exam of the liver may show cirrhosis, which can be caused by drinking too much alcohol.
In most cases, the cuts made during an autopsy will not show after the body has been prepared for viewing. An autopsy will not prevent you from having an open casket at your loved one's funeral.

If you need more information, see the topic Autopsy, or talk to your loved one's doctor.

Your Information

Your choices are:

Have an autopsy done on your loved one.
Don't have an autopsy done on your loved one.

The decision whether to have an autopsy done on your loved one takes into account your personal feelings, the medical facts, and possible legal issues.

**Deciding about autopsy**
Reasons to have an autopsy done on your loved one	Reasons to not have an autopsy done on your loved one
Your loved one died without warning, and you want to know the cause of his or her death. Your loved one may have had a genetic disease or condition, and you want to find out in case you or other family members may be at risk. Your loved one died during an experimental treatment, and an autopsy will help doctors learn more about that treatment. An autopsy may help doctors learn more about the disease or condition that caused your loved one's death. Are there other reasons you might want to have an autopsy done on your loved one?	An autopsy will cause you more grief. The death of your loved one was expected, and knowing the exact cause of death won't offer you any comfort or benefit. An autopsy is not an accepted practice in your religion, ethnic group, or culture. Cost is an issue. Are there other reasons you might not want to have an autopsy done on your loved one?

These personal stories may help you make your decision.

Wise Health Decision

Use this worksheet to help you make your decision. After completing it, you should have a better idea of how you feel about an autopsy. Discuss the worksheet with your doctor.

Circle the answer that best applies to you.

I want to know the exact cause of my loved one's death.	Yes	No	Unsure
My loved one's death was expected.	Yes	No	NA*
I want doctors to learn more about the disease or condition that caused my loved one's death.	Yes	No	Unsure
An autopsy is not acceptable in my religion, ethnic group, or culture.	Yes	No	Unsure
I want to know if my loved one died from a genetic disease or condition.	Yes	No	Unsure
I do not want an autopsy done on my loved one if my family will have to pay for it.	Yes	No	Unsure

*NA=Not applicable

Use the following space to list any other important concerns you have about this decision.

What is your overall impression?

Your answers in the above worksheet are meant to give you a general idea of where you stand on this decision. You may have one overriding reason to have or not to have an autopsy done on your loved one.

Check the box below that represents your overall impression about your decision.

Leaning toward having an autopsy done on my loved one

Leaning toward NOT having an autopsy done on my loved one

Return to the topic:

Credits

Author	Merrill Hayden
Editor	Katy E. Magee, MA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Corinne L. Fligner, MD - Anatomic Pathology
Last Updated	November 13, 2007

Author:	Merrill Hayden	Last Updated: November 13, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Corinne L. Fligner, MD - Anatomic Pathology
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