Negative AutopsyNegative Autopsy

Defination :-Defination :-

The autopsy is considered to be The autopsy is considered to be negative when all efforts including negative when all efforts including gross, microscopic and chemical studies gross, microscopic and chemical studies fail to reveal the Cause of Deathfail to reveal the Cause of Death

Can be studied under various headings such Can be studied under various headings such as :as :

I.I. Situations / Lapses / Deficiencies / Situations / Lapses / Deficiencies / Conducive to negative autopsyConducive to negative autopsy

A.A. Commencing autopsy without Commencing autopsy without proper history:-proper history:-

Example:-Example:- PneumothoraxPneumothorax

Air EmbolismAir Embolism

B.B. Improper external examination:-Improper external examination:- Example:-Example:-

Snake bite fang marksSnake bite fang marks ElectrocutionElectrocution Needle pricked marks in Needle pricked marks in

addictsaddicts Concealed injuriesConcealed injuries

C.C. Faulty internal examination:-Faulty internal examination:-

Example:-Example:-

Pneumothorax &Pneumothorax &

Air EmbolismAir Embolism

D.D. Failure of histological examination:-Failure of histological examination:-

E.E. Failure of toxicological Failure of toxicological examination :-examination :-

II.II. Causes of Negative AutopsyCauses of Negative Autopsy

A.A. Very short fatal periodVery short fatal period Example :-Example :-

Vagal inhibitionVagal inhibition

Early M IEarly M I

B.B. Trivial insignificant trauma:-Trivial insignificant trauma:-

Blow over trigger zoneBlow over trigger zone

Push and pull or slappingPush and pull or slapping

The situation does not cause any The situation does not cause any organic change:-organic change:-

Reflex coronary spasmReflex coronary spasm

Concussion of brainConcussion of brain

D.D. Indicators of organic change:- Indicators of organic change:-

Death presents but cannot be Death presents but cannot be detected by current routine methods detected by current routine methods of investigationsof investigations

Early M IEarly M I

Lesions of Adrenal and Parathyroid Lesions of Adrenal and Parathyroid

In all such situations where the doctor In all such situations where the doctor feels that everything which should be feels that everything which should be done has been done, he completely done has been done, he completely justified in declaring the cause of death justified in declaring the cause of death as :as :

“ “ Un-Determined”Un-Determined”

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