title: [Legal principles and discretionary power regarding official autopsy order (administratively determined dissection)].
abstract: In Germany, autopsies can be ordered by the representatives of the board of health according the Epidemics Law as so called administrative autopsy. If the autopsy is not absolutely necessary, it is mandatory to take into consideration the rights of the deceased persons as well as the rights of the relatives. The decisions of the legislature concerning clinical autopsies must also be considered. The juridical aspects and different types of organising the interrogation of the relatives are explained.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dettmeyer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*