Autopsy? how does an autopsy work? other than in crime dramas, when are they done (in real life)?

Autopsies : Autopsies are very important in at least three situations. They all "work" the same. In most situations, the next of kin has to give permission, the pathologist performs the exam, generates a description of the changes, takes tissue samples for microscopic slides, and generates a report after examining the slides with a microscope and interpreting them in light of his findings and the clinical situation. Here are the three situations. 1. A coroner or a medical examiner decides that an autopsy is necessary in order to accurately certify a death...As natural ( natural disease ) or not natural...Homicide, accident, poisoning, etc. The coroner does not require permission of the next of kin. He is authorized by law to perform the exam regardless of next of kin wishes. 2. An adult dies at home or in hospital. Provided that there is no reason for a physician to report the death to a corner or medical examiner, the next of kin must give permission for the exam. The autopsy will provide information related to the cause of death, progression of a disease related to the death, the results of treatment and therapy and sometimes findings that were not expected by the physicians caring for the patient or the family. 3. A child or infant dies at home or in the hospital. All of the above in number 2 apply. Moreover, the family may be provided with additional information regarding to the inheritance aspects of known or unknown conditions, i.e. The risk for the same condition in future off spring. One of the most important aspects of the autopsy in infants dying suddenly in the first year of life is that the autopsy may disclose no explanation for the death ( infection, congenital disease, inherited condition, etc. ) and the pathologist may establish a diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome, the most common cause of death in infants in the first year of life...Reassuring the parents that they did nothing to cause the death, and most importantly did not ignore anything that if treated might of prevented the death.

See below: In most jurisdictions in the U.S., autopsies are mandatory when there is suspicion of unnatural death (homicide, suicide), infant death in the first several hours of birth, patient death within the first several hours of hospitalization, or other suspicious or extraordinary circumstances. For all other causes (medical), it's done if the patient previously requested it or the family desires it.