AUTOPSY,

CRIME OR JUSTICE?

Autopsy is the examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by diseases.

There has been a continuous rift between science and religion in their views about autopsy. The early teaching of Islam didn’t permit autopsy as it was considered a desecration and it also delayed burial. However, Islamic scholars recently vetted the proposals on autopsy and have considered it beneficial.

For Jewish scholars, autopsies can be condoned only when they may be of value in saving the life of another. The Shintos, the Greek orthodox church and Zoroastrians forbid autopsies except those required by the law. Rastafarians and Hindus find autopsy extremely distasteful.

The American Indians believe that the body should not be disturbed. Most African societies believe that autopsies distort the body in reincarnation, while others refuse it on emotional basis. In Christianity, autopsy has neither been condemned nor encouraged.

Autopsy aims at:

·         Reviewing the quality of patient care.

·         Evaluating clinical diagnostic accuracy.

·         Determining the effectiveness of therapeutic regimens.

·         Discovering and defining new and changing diseases respectively.

·         Increasing the understanding of biological processes of diseases.

·         Obtaining medico-legal information

If autopsies are not carried out, hospitals bury their mistakes, emerging diseases remain a mystery and murderers can have a field day. AUTOPSY is justice!