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Autopsies, also known as postmortem examinations, can provide important information about the cause of death in humans and animals. They are routinely performed on animals during disease outbreaks and on humans when the cause of death is mysterious. Autopsies involve inspecting the outside and inside of the body, collecting samples for further study, and can provide insight into disease progression or the effectiveness of treatments. Some advocate for routine autopsies to prevent future deaths.
An autopsy is a postmortem examination that is sometimes called an autopsy, postmortem, or obduction. Some people like to use the term specifically for tests that are performed on non-humans, reserving the “autopsy” specifically for humans. When performed on humans or animals, autopsies can provide important information about the cause of death, and this information can be used in a wide variety of ways.
Animal autopsies are routinely performed when a new disease breaks out, to determine which animals are carriers of the disease and what the effects of the disease might be on the animals. In areas where zoonotic diseases are endemic, any animal suspected of death may be ordered to determine what the animal died of and see if the death should be cause for concern. Scientific researchers also survey their research subjects to learn more about how their research is going.
During an autopsy, the person performing the examination first inspects the outside of the body, making notes to record. These notes will include any signs of trauma, along with general observations about the subject’s physical health. Evidence such as blood draws and samples of substances found on the body may also be collected at this time. Once this examination is performed, the body is opened, allowing for inspection of the internal organs.
Depending on the nature of the autopsy, samples may be collected from one or more internal organs for further study. For example, if a dog is autopsied after it has been euthanized due to suspected rabies, a sample of brain tissue will be taken to test for disease. Similarly, brain tissue samples may be taken from a downer cow to check for signs of transmissible spongiform encephalitis (TSE). In the case of an autopsy on a human body, samples of the stomach contents may be taken to see what the person ate before death, and the heart and lungs will be examined for signs of disease.
When the cause of death is mysterious, an autopsy aims to clarify the problem. When the cause of death is known or obvious, the examination can be used to gather evidence about how the body died, whether the death is suspicious, or to learn more about the course of the disease that ultimately caused the person’s death or animal in question. In the case of scientific research, where test subjects are routinely euthanized after the test, the exam provides insight into whether or not a drug or treatment worked, or about disease progression or other problems being tested.
Some people have advocated for a routine autopsy, arguing that they can always provide more information about a death. Institutions like zoos always do them on animals that die under their care, for example, to know why the animal died and to prevent such deaths in the future. Autopsies on humans can also provide interesting information, even when the cause of death seems clear; researchers have discovered, for example, that some deaths attributed to senility or Alzheimer’s are actually TSEs.
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