Autopsy

Autopsy an autopsy is a special type of scientific examination of a dead body carried out under the state's laws mainly for the protection of its citizen and to determine the identification, cause, manner, and time since death in cases of unnatural and suspicious deaths. An autopsy is also known as a post-mortem examination or necropsy. Autopsy: Autos (Self) + Opis (View), so literally, autopsy means to see for oneself. Post-mortem examination: Post (after) + mortem (death) + Examination. So it means examination after death. Necropsy: Necros (death) + Opis (view).

Only a medico-legal type of autopsy is done in Bangladesh on the instruction of legal authority. Its function is to discover some or all of the facts about the unnatural and suspicious death. Information derived is applied for legal purposes to assist the administration of justice. A poor autopsy is worse than no autopsy, as it is more likely to lead to a miscarriage of justice.

The autopsy report consists of 3 parts: (i) The Preamble: This should mention the authority ordering the examination and particulars of the deceased. (ii) The body of the report: This consists of complete external and internal findings with a description. (iii) Conclusion: The cause of death must be given based on post-mortem findings. Conciseness and clear language are of high value in expressing an opinion. An autopsy is permitted only in government medical colleges and district levels in Bangladesh but not at the upazila level. [Md. Humayun Kabir]