Aggregate Death
21 Steps of an Autopsy
Image taken from the video MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSY – PART I
Today’s post is an excerpt from The Odd Index by Stephen Spignesi and is being posted with Stephen’s permission:
1. The dead body arrives at the morgue.
2. The body’s identity is confirmed, assigned an identification number, and given a toe tag, which is a cardboard ticket with all of the corpse’s pertinent information written on it. This tag is tied to the big toe.
3. The body is photographed from head to toe, front and back, in the clothing it was wearing when it arrived at the morgue.
4. The body is photographed from head to toe, front and back, completely naked.
5. The body is weighed on a scale, and the weight is recorded. The body is also measured for length, and completely X-rayed.
6. The fingerprints of the corpse are taken. In instances in which hands and/or fingers are missing parts are duly noted.
7. The clothing the deceased was wearing upon arrival at the morgue is carefully examined. Fiber samples from the garments are taken for later study, and stains on clothing are noted and examined.
8. Any and all moles, wounds, tattoos, scars (including surgical scars), and other physical body anomalies are noted and examined.
9. The corpse’s fingernails, toenails, skin, and hair are examined. The skin on the arms and legs is carefully checked for syringe markings.
10. During a medical autopsy of a female, a rigorous examination of the external genitalia (labia, pubic hair, etc) is performed to determine whether or not there was a rape or sexual assault committed against the woman prior to (and/or after) her death.
11. Body fluids (blood, urine, etc) are withdrawn from the body and subjected to comprehensive toxicology tests.
12. The coroner makes a huge, full body-length “Y” incision that opens up the entire front of the body. The incision starts at each shoulder, proceeds on an angle down to the mid-chest, and then joins into a straight line that extends all the way to the pubis. This is the most dramatic element of a medical-legal autopsy, and most people who have never seen one performed are stunned by the dramatic way the body is spread wide by this incision. Many people have, at one time or another, seen some sort of surgical procedure performed. The incisions, even for major abdominal surgery, are thin, neat, and relatively “clean.” An autopsy incision need not be neat, nor concerned with excessive bleeding. Thus, the corpse is split wide open by a deep cut that is a very effective reminder that the person being autopsied is, in fact, quite dead.
13. First the organs of the upper abdominal cavity-the lungs, heart, esophagus and trachea-are removed. The coroner then takes out the lower abdominal organs, which include the liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenals, stomach, and intestines. Slices of each organ are taken and tested.
14. The internal genitalia of both males and females are examined. In the case of females, the uterus and vagina are carefully studied for signs of pregnancy, rape, or some form of sexual assault.
15. The organs of the pelvic region, including the bladder, the uterus, and the ovaries, are removed. Samples of each organ are taken and analyzed.
16. When the cause of death are either drowning or a suspected poisoning or drug overdose, the contents of the stomach are removed, examined, and carefully analyzed. All findings are recorded.
17. Any and all bullet wounds are recorded. The number of wounds is noted, as well as the perceived direction(s) of the bullet(s). An estimate, based on the configuration of the bullet entrance wounds, is made as to what distance the gun was from the victim when it was fired. All bullets are removed from the body and placed in plastic bags. The bullets are then examined and recorded as evidence.
18. First, a deep incision is made in the skin of the scalp. The cut, which is called intermastiod, begins behind one ear, travels over the top of the head, and ends behind the opposite ear. The scalp is then grasped firmly and pulled forward over the face, baring the skull. Using an electric saw, a wedge-shaped portion of the skull is cut out and removed, exposing the brain. The brain is then removed in its entirety, weighed, and examined.
19. Since he or she is now through with them, the coroner returns all of the removed internal organs to the body cavities.
20. The autopsy findings, complete with a final opinion as to the cause of death, as well as all reports and photographs, are turned over to legal authorities. This “package” becomes part of the corpus delecti, and is used as evidence in a court of law when necessary. The folder containing all of this detailed information is known as the case file.
21. A final determination is made as to the cause of death, and the death certificate is filled out.
For more information about the author, Stephen Spignesi, visit his website HERE.
The Good Karma of a Tibetan Sky Burial: a video
In the high mountains of Tibet, where trees don’t grow, natural resources scarce, and the land is harsh, Tibetan Buddhists do not bury their dead, nor waste precious resources cremating the body. From dust to dust, flesh to flesh, nothing is wasted. Human body flesh makes precious food for the vultures. Tibetan Buddhists feed their dead to the vultures. This is good karma.
Digging up Grandma’s remains so you can sell her grave
© 2011 MarineCorps NewYork, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio
Grave plots are property.
When cemeteries become full, that property’s value can skyrocket. Supply and demand.
And when you’re hurting for money, and your grandmother’s remains are buried in said property, YOU DON’T SELLOUT GRANDMA!
That is, unless you’re the guy who just dug up grandma so he could sell her grave.
A Darwin, Australia man has dug up his buried grandmother and cremated her body so he could sell off her burial plot for spare cash.
This was revealed by NT News with further reports that Darwin City Council have been discussing whether to review the Cemetery Act, alderman Gary Haslett said.
Mr Haslett said a ‘black market’ has emerged as there are locals who were ‘dying to be buried’ at the city’s general cemetery.
It is unknown which cemetery the Darwin man sold his grandmother’s burial plot, however Darwin General Cemetery is at capacity with the exception of grave sites which were bought in advance.
You can read more HERE.
Stupid Death Joke: Sufficient Reason to Dig up Dad
© 2009 Nationaal Archief, Flickr | PD | via Wylio
Two brothers are discussing the details of their father’s funeral.
The first one is trying to arrange everything himself, because he knows that the other one is pretty dim and sure to mess something up in some way.
The dim brother insists that he won’t. Finally the first brother relents and gives him a small task: “Just make sure dad looks nice for the service.”
The day of the service arrives and everything goes off without a hitch. The first brother congratulates the dim one on a job well done.
A month after the service, the first brother receives a bill for $200 from the funeral home. He assumes it was a missed cost and sends the money.
Another month goes by, and again he receives a bill for $200. Thinking something must be wrong, he calls the funeral home and asks why he’s being charged another $200.
The funeral home director replies, “Well, your brother was insistent on your father looking nice for the funeral, so he rented him a tux!”
One Last Trip: 16 Photos of terminal patients on their final outing
There’s a wonderful end of life charity that’s working in the Netherlands called, “Ambulance Wish Foundation.” There’s over 200 volunteers that work with a fleet of ambulances who take terminal patients on one final trip to the destination of their choice.
Their Twitter feed is absolutely fabulous. Here’s a couple pictures that I screen captured from their Twitter page.
I’d love to see charities like this pop up in the United States.
