title: [Autopsy].
abstract: The basic tasks of a physician when performing an autopsy are the establishment of death, the time of death, the manner of death and the cause of death as well as detecting communicable diseases. The person performing the autopsy must decide if a postmortem investigation is to be undertaken or whether the deceased can be buried without further examination. Thus, the physician has a crucial function that requires a high measure of diligence.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechts-medizin der Universität München. oliver.peschel@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eisenmenger
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001926:Brain Death / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002423:Cause of Death; D003644:Death Certificates; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D016495:Police; D011180:Postmortem Changes