READ: The Autopsy

Autopsy Procedure

Bodies arrive at the medical examiner's office or hospital in a body bag or evidence sheet. Body bags are always new and are not reused so that only evidence pertaining to that body is in contact with the body bag. They are always closed and sealed during transport so that no evidence is contaminated or lost. Evidence sheets are sterile sheets used to drape over a body during transport. Just as with body bags, evidence sheets are never reused. After transport, the body is brought into the examination area by a diener. A diener is an assistant in the morgue who is responsible for moving and cleaning the body and exam room throughout the autopsy process. They also sometimes assist with the autopsy. If the body is not autopsied immediately, the diener will transport the body to be stored in the morgue in refrigerated storage. When the body is ready to be examined externally, the seals on the body bag are broken or the sheet is removed and the body is photographed before being moved onto the examination table. The medical examiner carefully observes the deceased person's clothing and notes the state and position of the clothing. Evidence is collected from the surface of the body such as hair samples, fingernail clippings, gunshot residue, fibers, glass fragments, paint chips, and other foreign objects.

Next, the body is examined with a UV light to search for other evidence such as body secretions. Before the body is cleaned, it is examined for obvious wounds. After the initial examination, the body is cleaned, weighed and measured. The body is then placed on a slanted aluminum examination table with raised edges, faucets and drains. The faucets and drains are used to wash away blood that collects during examination. The body lies face up with a "body block" placed under the back. The body block is a piece of plastic or rubber in the shape of a brick that raises the chest up for easier incision.

Before making any incisions, the body is thoroughly described in the autopsy notes with the following information: race; sex; hair color/length; eye color; estimation of age; identifying marks such as tattoos, birthmarks or scars; evidence of medical treatment; and x-rays made of the body.

Lastly, a blood and Vitreous Humor sample is taken to submit for toxicology testing. Vitreous Humor is the liquid part of the eye and is used in Toxicology testing. Drugs remain in the Vitreous Humor longer than in the bloodstream, so it is often tested to look for traces of drugs in the body.

Georgia Virtual, Autopsy and the Role of the Medical Examiner, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0