Welcome to the Autopsy Section of Anatomic Pathology.

Autopsy is a postmortem examination that thoroughly examines a body after death to help determine the cause of death. Specimens are obtained from the patient during the autopsy procedure. During the gross phase of the autopsy, macroscopic examination and measurements are obtained and noted. Smaller sections of tissue or fluid are isolated and embedded for cutting processes to occur so that the microscopic examination phase can be performed. LSUHSC offers three catagories of autopsy: medical, private, and forensic.

Medical Autopsy Consultative Services

Offers families and medical communities:

• Answers about cause of death involving complex health issues.
• Closure and answers in cases involving inherited disorders to allow testing and/or treatment of family members.
• Immediate access to quality pathology autopsy services.
• Assurance that autopsy reports will be timely, affordable, and accurate.
• Limited or full autopsy.

Private Autopsy Consultative Services

Offers family members:
• Confidential, compassionate services performed while maintaining a loved one’s dignity and privacy.
• Closure and answers in cases involving inherited disorders.
• Immediate access to quality autopsy pathology services.
• Limited or full autopsy.
• Assurance that autopsy reports will be timely, affordable, and accurate.
• Services on recently deceased, embalmed, or exhumed bodies.

Offers coroners, law enforcement personnel, case investigators, attorneys, and medical communities:

• Immediate access to quality forensic pathology services.
• Assurance that autopsy reports will be timely, affordable, and accurate with detailed accounts regarding information needed to determine cause, mechanism, manner and circumstances of death.
• Mechanisms to request private autopsies on recently deceased, embalmed, or exhumed bodies.
• Consultations with a forensic pathologist regarding matters of civil or criminal litigation as well as professional and experienced expert testimony.

Friendly Customer Service

LSUHSC-S has highly qualified staff to assist you with any question in this area.