Can autopsy results be inconclusive?
Therefore, when an autopsy is ruled inconclusive, as in Laundrie’s case, it means that the internal and external tests performed did not provide a clear cause of death. After an autopsy was conducted, her death was ruled a homicide. It was also noted that she died by strangulation.
What does it mean when cause of death is undetermined?
Undetermined is listed as the manner of death classification in only a small number of cases each year. An undetermined manner of death is assigned to cases of unnatural death when a clear preponderance of evidence supporting a specific manner (homicide, accident, or suicide) is not available.
How common is unknown cause of death?
Approximately 5% of cases reportedly remain unknown after a complete autopsy. With this in mind, we sought to examine the frequency of deaths in which both the cause and manner are unknown after complete forensic examination and autopsy.
What is an example of an undetermined death?
The manner of death can be recorded as “undetermined” if there is not enough evidence to reach a firm conclusion. For example, the discovery of a partial human skeleton indicates a death, but might not provide enough evidence to determine a cause.
Who determines manner of death?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. In many legal jurisdictions, the manner of death is a determination, typically made by the coroner, medical examiner, police, or similar officials, and recorded as a vital statistic.
Can a biopsy be inconclusive?
Test results may be inconclusive if the prostate biopsy sample does not contain enough tissue to make a definite diagnosis. Because a needle biopsy collects tissue from such a small area, there is a chance that a cancerous growth may be missed.
What does autopsy mean?
Medical Definition of autopsy. (Entry 1 of 2) : an examination of the body after death usually with such dissection as will expose the vital organs for determining the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease.