State law mandates that an autopsy must be performed on the following types of deaths: (1) children under the age of (2) years where death results from an unknown cause or where circumstances surrounding the death indicate a Sudden Unexplained Infant death, and (2) all persons whose deaths occur while they are confined in a prison, jail or correctional institution. However, an autopsy should be performed in the case of any death where the circumstances are sudden, unexpected, violent, suspicious or unattended. An autopsy can confirm natural disease, or help reconstruct an individual’s final moments if death has resulted from physical injury. A postmortem examination and its ancillary studies can also provide information leading to the positive identification of unidentified persons.
