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Article: Autopsy
- Article from:
- World of Forensic Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Thomson Gale. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Autopsy
Autopsy means "see for yourself." It is a special surgical operation, performed by specially trained physicians, on a dead body. Its purpose is to learn the truth about the person's health during life, and how the person died.
There are many advantages to getting an autopsy. Even when the law does not require it, there is always something interesting for the family to know
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something worth knowing that wasn't known during life is often found. Even at major hospitals, in approximately one case in four, a major disease is found that was unknown in life. Giving families the explanations they want is often stated as one of the most satisfying things that a pathologist does. A ...