Upon the death of a loved one, families have many questions, especially around the exact cause of death. Finding out the details of what happened to the person who passed away involves a medical examination by a coroner’s office and the issuance of a death certificate. Many times an autopsy is necessary but circumstances as to when this is required can vary.

When a person dies, an autopsy can be ordered depending on the situation. Law enforcement agencies tend to request an autopsy when there are signs of foul play surrounding an unexpected death. But can family members request one of the deceased person on their own? Or can a funeral director or funeral home make the request?

The situations that require an autopsy can vary from state to state, and some are mandated by law. Typically, though, a medical examiner or county coroner can require an autopsy in the following situations.

Whenever it appears a person died from something other than natural causes, like a murder, an autopsy can be ordered. The foul play doesn’t have to be obvious. For example, a medical examiner may suspect foul play only after they have conducted an external examination of the decedent’s body.

If the circumstances surrounding the death are suspicious, law enforcement agencies will get a thorough forensic autopsy done — even if it’s against a family’s wishes — if foul play is suspected. The autopsy report will then become a part of the death investigation and ultimately part of a criminal prosecution if necessary.

If it’s suspected that a person died as a result of a disease, an autopsy can be ordered for public health purposes. The reason is that stopping the spread of diseases is important to the government. The postmortem examination will include gathering adequate medical history as well as a full forensic pathology report and laboratory tests to assist in determining the type of infection or disease. Going forward, healthcare professionals will know what medications or other treatments can be used to help prevent additional deaths.

Under federal law, CEOs of prisons may order an autopsy of an inmate if they died from murder, suicide, illness, accident or any unexplained death. But the autopsy must be done according to the laws of the state where the prison and the decedent are located

Families can always request an autopsy for their late loved one. A family may wish to have an autopsy done if they suspect murder, of course. But an autopsy may also help in cases of suspected medical malpractice or a drug defect case, among others.

If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (traffic related or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.