Types of Autopsy

Question 1

Hospital autopsy

Answer 1

• Requested by hospital doctors or family for educational/research purposes
• Require consent
• May be limited to particular areas of the body

Question 2

Coroner’s autopsy

Answer 2

Sudden, suspicious, accidental and unexplained deaths are reported to Procurator Fiscal who orders appropriate autopsy.

• V&G
• One doctor
• Two/double doctor

Question 3

View and Grant

Answer 3

• External examination only
• Identify injuries and ensure correlation of post-mortem changes
• GP reluctant to sign death certificate

Question 4

One doctor autopsy

Answer 4

Standard instructed autopsy from Procurator Fiscal

• Majority
• Natural, suicides

Question 5

Two doctor autopsy

Answer 5

Unique instruction specific to Scots Law.
Autopsy cooperated (2 pathologists present) throughout to eliminate bias.
- Negligence, carelessness, ill-will
- Drug deaths

Question 6

Paediatric autopsy

Answer 6

Forensic pathologist and paediatric pathologist present.

• SUDI
• Trauma