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Forensic Medicine pp 57–74Cite as

Autopsy (Syn. Postmortem Examination, Necroscopy)

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Abstract

The corpse is accorded respect in all cultural spheres and, according to the prevailing beliefs in many countries, has personal protection rights that continue to be effective post-mortem. Thus, the dignity of an individual is to be respected even after death. The religious beliefs of the deceased and the bereaved require special consideration. Although relatives have a right to care for the dead, they do not have unlimited rights of disposal. Therefore, according to civil law, a body cannot be sold and may not become an object of commercial trade (“res extra commercium”). A body can be subject to confiscation for the purposes of criminal proceedings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Gießen, Gießen, Germany

    Reinhard B. Dettmeyer, Marcel A. Verhoff & Harald F. Schütz

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  1. Reinhard B. Dettmeyer
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  2. Marcel A. Verhoff
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  3. Harald F. Schütz
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Dettmeyer, R.B., Verhoff, M.A., Schütz, H.F. (2014). Autopsy (Syn. Postmortem Examination, Necroscopy). In: Forensic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38818-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38818-7_4

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-38817-0

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