Evidence Commons^™

Autopsy Evidence, Garcon Weiss

Cleveland State Law Review

Frequently death results in legal problems, either civil or criminal, the solutions of which depend on the cause of death. The autopsy (necropsy), or post-mortem examination, is the scientific method of determining the cause of death. An autopsy is the careful inspection of the external and internal structures of the body. There are two types of autopsy, the medical autopsy and the medico-legal autopsy. This article is limited to the use of the autopsy for medico-legal purposes, i.e., for obtaining and submitting evidence.