title: Reliance on internal autopsies in coronial investigations: a review of the issues.
abstract: Internal autopsies are invasive and result in the mutilation of the deceased person's body. They are expensive and pose occupational health and safety risks. Accordingly, they should only be done for good cause. However, until recently, "full" internal autopsies have usually been undertaken in most coroners' cases. There is a growing trend against this practice but it is meeting resistance from some pathologists who argue that any decision as to the extent of the autopsy should rest with them. This article examines the origins of the coronial system to place in context the current approach to a death investigation and to review the debate about the role of an internal autopsy in the coronial system.
authors: School of Justice, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Barnes
authors: Belinda
authors: B
authors: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D012380:Role