What does autopsy mean in the context of a death investigation?

In the context of a death investigation, an autopsy refers to a medical examination conducted by a pathologist to determine the cause and manner of death. This process involves a thorough examination of the body and can include dissection, which allows the medical examiner to inspect internal organs, tissues, and other physical evidence that may not be visible externally. Through this examination, the autopsy can reveal information about injuries, diseases, toxic substances, or other conditions that may have contributed to the person's death.

The findings from an autopsy can be crucial in legal cases, as they provide objective evidence regarding how someone died, which can help in criminal investigations, clarify concerns about foul play, and assist in public health monitoring by identifying patterns in deaths that may relate to specific issues. This critical role in determining cause and manner of death distinguishes autopsies from other processes such as forensic analyses of weapons, psychological evaluations of suspects, or chemical testing of biological fluids, which do not directly involve examining the deceased individual for the purpose of understanding their death.