The coroner will release the body soon as possible—almost always within three days of the person's death. The body is usually released to the funeral director chosen by the family to conduct the funeral.
This is usually within 72 hours but it can be longer sometimes. You can still make funeral arrangements during this time, but a burial or cremation cannot happen until the coroner has released the body. In some cultures, burying a body as soon as possible is very important.
The Coroner's job is to find out the identity of the deceased person (if required) and the date, place, medical cause and circumstances of their death. This will usually involve a number of investigations being carried out on the Coroner's behalf by police, medical specialists and other experts.
Depending on the results, the Coroner will (a) find the death natural and close the case; (b) open an investigation, where we obtain further information from doctors or others involved; or (c) open an inquest, which is a fact-finding court hearing about the circumstances of the death.
Autopsy reports are usually completed within 60 days from the date of autopsy; however, there are cases which can take 90 days or longer depending on the complexity of the case.
“I remove your tongue during an autopsy – we need to make sure you didn't bite down on it, make sure you don't have drugs in the back of your throat.
Organ removal—Using special techniques, the organs are cut and removed from the body. All organs (heart, lungs, liver, intestines, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, and pelvic organs) and the major arteries are examined individually. They are weighed, washed, and dissected as necessary.
An experienced coroner's pathologist should be invited to the scene in cases involving mass murders, blunt force injury homicides, “decomposing” homicides, and any other case in which the coroner needs medical expertise.
Organs are retained only when necessary to facilitate proper examination. In most cases, no whole organs are retained.
The Coroner's investigation is not limited to the examination of the deceased, but may include interviews with family members and other witnesses, the collection of physical evidence and the safeguarding of personal property found at the death scene.
If the post mortem shows an unnatural cause of death, or if the cause of death is not found at the initial examination, the Coroner will open an investigation or inquest. They will also need to do this if the deceased died in custody or otherwise in the care of the State.
If you witness someone die unexpectedly or suddenly, or if you aren't sure if the person is dead, you should immediately call 000. Ask for an ambulance and explain what's happened as best you can. Once the first responders arrive, they will either attempt resuscitation or confirm the death.
The Coroner is able to take (or direct his/her officer to take) statements from witnesses for his/her own inquiry. The Coroner does not, however, have the power to direct HSE's investigation.
A few days after the death, the deceased person will need to be transported to a mortuary, where they can be kept in refrigerated conditions for around 4-6 weeks.
Instead of preparing the body with chemicals, morticians will store it in a fridge that keeps the body at two degrees Celsius. However, like embalming, it's important to remember that this merely slows the decomposition process – it doesn't stop it. A refrigerated body will last three to four weeks.
A body presents little threat to public health in the first day following the death. However, after 24 hours the body will need some level of embalming. A mortuary will be able to preserve the body for approximately a week. Regardless of the embalming, decomposition will begin after one week.
At the time of death, all tissue rapidly begins to degrade. In order to ensure the greatest research and diagnostic value for the brain tissue, it is essential that it is removed as quickly after death as possible.
Do they remove organs when you are embalmed? One of the most common questions people have about embalming is whether or not organs are removed. The answer is no; all of the organs remain in the body during the embalming process.
At autopsy, the brain is removed in the usual fashion and put on ice as soon as possible, after which it is transported to the laboratory and dissected immediately using a customized dissection. The cerebellar hemispheres are removed and sliced and frozen.
Following examination, the organs are either returned to the body (minus the pieces preserved for future work or evidence) or cremated, in accordance with the law and the family's wishes. The breastbone and ribs are also usually put back.
Investigates sudden, unnatural, and unexplained deaths. Collects and analyzes crime scene evidence and medical records. Interviews witnesses, doctors, family members, and other sources. Performs autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death.
Background: A full autopsy at our institution includes removal of the eyes for pathologic examination.
All of the procedures during an autopsy are conducted with great care in order to preserve the appearance of the deceased person, and to minimize alterations of the body.
A morgue or mortuary (in a hospital or elsewhere) is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification (ID), removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation or other methods of disposal.