An autopsy is an examination of the body after death to determine the cause of death. An autopsy is performed by a physician trained in pathology.

Most autopsies advance medical knowledge and provide evidence for legal action. Medically, autopsies determine the exact cause and circumstances of death, discover the pathway of a disease, and provide valuable information to be used in the care of the living. When murder is suspected, a government coroner or medical examiner performs autopsies for legal use. This branch of medical study is called forensic medicine. Forensic specialists investigate deaths resulting from violence or occurring under suspicious circumstances.

Benefits of research from autopsies include the production of new medical information to help understand and better treat diseases such as toxic shock syndrome and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Organ donation, which saves the lives of other patients, is also another benefit of autopsies.

When performed...