Medical Autopsy

A medical autopsy is a medical examination of a deceased person's body to determine the cause of death and to gather information about any underlying medical conditions that may have contributed.

If a death was expected, a medical autopsy may be requested to investigate possible inherited diseases, or better understand treatments used to fight a disease.

This is in contrast to a Forensic Autopsy, which may be required by state law if the death was unexpected or possibly related to criminal activity.

Also known as a Clinical Autopsy.