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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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