What is the difference between a forensic autopsy and a hospital autopsy?
As required by statute, a forensic autopsy is conducted to establish the cause and manner of death, to collect trace evidence, to document physical findings, and to answer other medical and legal questions. A hospital autopsy is often performed when the cause of a person’s death is known. The purpose of this autopsy is to obtain unknown facts about a disease and/or the effects of a therapy used to treat it.
