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Simple English definitions for legal terms
autopsy
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A quick definition of autopsy:
Autopsy: An autopsy is when doctors examine a dead body to find out why the person died. They look at the body very carefully and sometimes cut it open to see what is inside. This helps them figure out if the person had a disease or injury that caused their death. Autopsies can also be used in criminal investigations to find out how someone died. The doctors write a report about what they found, which can be used in court. Other words for autopsy include postmortem, postmortem examination, necropsy, and obduction.
A more thorough explanation:
Autopsy is a medical examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death or for scientific purposes. It comes from the Greek word "autopsia" which means "the act of seeing with one's own eyes".
Autopsies are usually done to determine the cause of death of a person in a criminal investigation or to find out if there were any diseases or injuries that caused the death. The results of an autopsy are recorded in an autopsy report which can be used in court.
Examples of when an autopsy might be done include:
- If a person dies suddenly and the cause of death is unknown
- If a person dies while under medical care and the cause of death is unclear
- If a person dies in suspicious circumstances
Autopsies are important because they can help provide closure for families and loved ones of the deceased, and they can also help with criminal investigations by providing evidence.