Negative Autopsy

 Defination :-

 The autopsy is considered to be negative

when all efforts including gross,
microscopic and chemical studies fail to
reveal the Cause of Death

 Can be studied under various headings such as :

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

A. Commencing autopsy without proper

history:-
Example:-
 Pneumothorax

 Air Embolism
B. Improper external examination:-
 Example:-

 Snake bite fang marks

 Electrocution
 Needle pricked marks in addicts
 Concealed injuries
C. Faulty internal examination:-
Example:-

 Pneumothorax &

 Air Embolism
D. Failure of histological examination:-
E. Failure of toxicological examination :-
 II. Causes of Negative Autopsy
A. Very short fatal period
 Example :-

 Vagal inhibition

 Early M I
B. Trivial insignificant trauma:-

 Blow over trigger zone

 Push and pull or slapping

 The situation does not cause any organic
change:-

 Reflex coronary spasm

 Concussion of brain
D. Indicators of organic change:-

Death presents but cannot be detected

by current routine methods of
investigations

 Early M I

 Lesions of Adrenal and Parathyroid

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

“ Un-Determined”
THANK YOU