Determining Cause and Time of Death Autopsy and Methods to Determine Time of Death

Autopsies Define: postmortem examination to determine why and how a person died An autopsy is performed by a pathologist Certain deaths are required by law to be examined by the medical examiners office Sudden or unexpected Suspicious circumstances Result of injury

Reasons for an Autopsy Determine which disease or injury caused death Diagnosis-confirm a diagnosis or better understand a diagnosis Evaluate possible public health issue Collect evidence in criminal cases

Preparation If not required by law, next of kin must give consent Legal consent form must be signed If autopsy is required by law, no consent form is needed

Procedure Complete medical history and review of records External exam Body tag Weight and height Clothing and valuables identified Distinguishing body marks are documented Pictures or x-rays

Complete internal exam Dissection of head and abdomen first Organs removed and weighed, measured and examined Tissue samples taken and examined Fluid samples taken and analyzed

Completion of Autopsy Statement made to cause or manner of death Classified as natural or unnatural death Legal death certificate is signed

Methods to Determine Time of Death Rigor Mortis Begins 3 hours after death in face and eyelid muscles Takes twelve hours to affect the entire body Process is reversed after 36 hours Joints of the body become stiff and locked in place Due to skeletal muscles partially contracting

Lividity Visible 30-60 minutes after death Due to red blood cells settling and skin turns red then purple Color is permanent in 6-10 hours after death

Body Temperature Falls at a rate of one degree per hour after death depending on temperature conditions in the environment Obesity and warmer climates slow the cooling process None of the above can be totally reliable indicators of time of death