What is a Complete Autopsy?

Postmortem examinations have taken place over the past several thousand years. Despite this, the definition of a “complete” autopsy remains nebulus and the subject of controversy. Although ‘minimal autopsy practice standards’ have been published by professional bodies globally, recognition of, and adherence to those standards remains sporadic. An underlying refutation that ‘autopsies can never be complete’ – the reductio ad absurdum fallacy – has influenced many forensic pathologists’ opinions about autopsy. More pragmatic pathologists attempt to balance the financial and workload burdens of autopsies with the principles of adequacy and accuracy. Some medical examiners cite “statutory duty” as the force guiding the nature and completeness of their work, and as such, external examinations, partial autopsies and other limited variants are substituted for complete autopsies. Although it is impossible to perform every conceivable test in any one autopsy, an evidence-based approach guided by three forensic autopsy goals – statutory duty, the creation of a minimal dataset for societal and governmental inquiry, and maintenance of practitioner competency – ensure the completeness of any one postmortem examination.