Why to do or not to do autopsies
Dr. Cándido L. Otero is a retired pathologist in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Otero is a doctor who specializes in the study of bodily fluids and tissues. As a pathologist, Dr. Otero did two Fellowships, the first Fellowship was Cytopathology, the study of the cell, at Shans Jacksonville, Florida and the second Felllowship, Oncological... more
Autopsies are a diagnostic procedure that gives the families more information about disease processes that caused the patient's demise. It can identify an unknown primary malignancy not taken into consideration as cause of the death. In addition, pathology performs a more thorough examination that may not have been feasible before death.
All deaths due to unnatural causes are accident, suicide, homicide, unexpected deaths, and suspicious ones. When the body is brought to the coroners office, the pathologist, the medical examiner as well as the Coroner are the ones involved to determine if an autopsy is necessary.
Autopsies are not always necessary with every death by the coroner. Approximately fifty percent (50%) of all deaths investigated by the coroner 's office do not require autopsies because the medical history is already well known. Another reason could be cultural as well as the demise wishes while he was alive. Also, death by natural causes where there is no sign of foul play and / or the person, while alive, had a great and adequate medical attention so the medical history.
The time of death can be determined by the changes of pressure in the eyes of the demise. The normal intra-ocular pressure, when the person is alive varies from 12 mmHb to 16 mmHg normal. If above 19 mmHg, you are at risk of glaucoma. Obviously, the intra-ocular pressure decreases after death reaching less than 4 mmHg in approximately 5 - 6 hours.
There are few stages of death. The first stage is that we call pallor mortis. The body becomes pale which is caused by the blood pooling. The second stage is Algor mortis and is the stage where the cooling of the body occurs. The third stage is rigor mortis. It is characterized by stiffness. The muscles stiffen and contracts that the body of the demise becomes very hard. The fourth stage is liver mortis, where a pool of blood, due to stagnation because the heart is not pumping the blood, is accumulated in the dependent area of the body. There is a blue discoloration of the skin, a bruised-like lesion.
Sometimes, autopsies gives closure to the closest family members as well as it can be more cumbersome. Autopsy of a family member is very personal and cultural.
