Purpose of Autopsy
The following are the purpose of Autopsy:
1. Cause of Death: The autopsy determines more than just the cause of death. While the medicolegal autopsy in particular has this vital primary goal, most autopsies serve a broader function.
2. Identify Concealed Facts: The autopsy examines the specific sickness as indicated in one individual and is not merely a statistical average. Every autopsy is crucial for exposing errors, defining new illnesses and patterns of disease, and guiding future research.
3. Discovering Genetic Conditions: Autopsies can indicate that a person died from an untreated or misdiagnosed genetic (hereditary) illness. This can help biological family members understand their risk of developing the illness.
4. Providing Legal Evidence: Autopsies are frequently used to provide legal evidence in criminal situations such as homicide. However, they can also give legal evidence in situations involving workplace tragedies, environmental risks, or medical negligence. These causes of death may be grounds for a lawsuit.
5. Solving Uncertainties: When clinical autopsies reveal the cause of death, they can bring closure or consolation to family members and loved ones by verifying that the diagnosis and treatment they got were appropriate. Having answers rather than doubts might help you grieve and cope with the death of a loved one.
6. Helps in Medical Education: The autopsy plays an important part in medical education. It serves as the focal point for the profession’s training in assessing and applying medical information.