Any death that appears to be connected with a crime or suspected crime. Any death, whether or not accidental, caused wholly or partly by stabbing, drowning, poisoning, hanging, electrocution, asphyxia or a gunshot wound.
Any death where the deceased person is dead on arrival at a hospital. Any death which may be by suicide. Any death where the body of the deceased person is unidentified. Any death where no family member of the deceased person can be traced within a reasonable time of the death. Any death where the body of the deceased person is found or recovered in circumstances that indicate that the death may have occurred a considerable period of time previously.
Any death other than in circumstances to which paragraph 8 applies in respect of which the date of death may not be ascertainable. Although some information can be obtained from looking directly at organs in a post-mortem examination, often the only way to understand properly what has happened is:.
It is usually necessary to retain small tissue samples for further examination and for further tests such as looking at chromosomes or genes and searching for infections due to bacteria or viruses that may have caused the death.
Small samples of tissue are removed from the organs and placed in small plastic containers. The samples measure around 1. The tissue is chemically treated to remove water, which is replaced with wax. This process creates tissue blocks. Very thin slices sections a tenth of the thickness of a human hair are then cut from the surface. The sections are placed on glass slides so that they can be examined under a microscope.
More than one slide can be cut from each block. The tissue blocks and slides are stored in special cabinets as part of the medical pathology records and in line with the Human Tissue Act The process of creating tissue blocks and slides may create very small amounts of unused or residual tissue.
This is usually disposed of by incineration. Occasionally it is necessary to retain whole organs for further examination, as this can provide more detailed understanding of the cause of death. The next of kin will always be advised if any tissue samples or organs are retained for further tests.
It may be necessary to x-ray or photograph the body or an organ during the post-mortem examination. These images form part of the record of investigation of the death. They are usually retained indefinitely. Their use is strictly controlled and always confidential. The pathologist will provide the preliminary results of the post-mortem examination to the Coroner very quickly. However, a final written report may not be available for some time as further tests may need to be carried out and these can take time to complete.
They will also be able to say if any organs or tissue have been retained following the post-mortem examination. The family will be informed when this happens and they may also request a copy of the final report from the Coroner.
The report may contain complex medical terminology, and the family may wish to discuss the findings with their family doctor.
Family members may feel that they would like to discuss the post-mortem examination with the pathologist who carried it out. The pathologist, with the authority of the Coroner, may need to retain any organs and tissue samples removed at the post-mortem examination to assist in the investigation into the death. The Royal College of Pathologists recommends that tissue blocks and slides form part of the medical pathology records and that they should be retained in case they need to be reviewed at a later time.
This is usually collected by the funeral director on your behalf. When the body is going to be moved out of England and Wales. Contact us on We're open from 9am to 5pm Mon - Fri. We are closed on bank holidays.
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