It may not be touched or moved, except for lifesaving efforts, without permission. Medical Examiner investigators respond to every homicide and traumatic death scene before the body is taken to the office for investigation. An autopsy is an intricate medical procedure often requiring complex laboratory tests. It includes removal and inspection of all major organ systems for the purpose of documenting injury, disease or the lack thereof. An autopsy does NOT interfere with the final viewing and funeral of the deceased.
Funeral directors prepare a body after autopsy according to the wishes of the family.
Investigation or autopsy is necessary in all traumatic deaths regardless of the duration of survival or hospitalization of the injured person if no complete recovery was made after the injury . An autopsy is not normally performed when the death appears to be from natural causes, adequate medical history exists, and there are no indications of foul play. The Medical Examiner often receives such cases only because the attending physician is not in Florida and cannot sign a Florida death certificate or the person has never been to a physician. Often insurance policies are written to provide double or triple payment if the death was due to accident and not due to natural causes. Autopsy results assist the legal system in establishing material facts in criminal cases thus protecting the final rights of the deceased and his or her surviving family.