[Autopsy technique and basic legal aspects of autopsy]

Dissection techniques and questions regarding the laws governing autopsy. Autopsy techniques vary. Hamperl's methods, in my opinion, best fulfil the demands of pathology as well as of forensic medicine. In order to obtain more conclusive findings, the dissection of internal organs in several so-called packages, e.g. throat and chest organs and kidneys in the urogenital system, is preferable. Severance of the heart as a means of achieving bloodlessness (Blutleere) should be tolerated only in isolated cases. Some comments on hygienic working methods are in order, not least because of frequent violations in this area. The dignity of the deceased demands hygienic conditions and that the external appearance of the body be reestablished. The removed organs should be returned to the body for burial. Burial should not be used as a means of waste disposal for the institute. The most common and well-known autopsy cases are also dealt with: legal and administrative autopsy. Only forensic autopsy is governed by Para. 87 StPO, albeit incompletely. The definition of the medical examiner is difficult. According to the law on the standardization in Public Health dated 3. 7. 1934 (RGBl. I., p. 531), these tasks should come under the jurisdiction of the health authorities. Since these are not in a position, either from a personnel or material standpoint, to assume these tasks, it is customary, as is the case in the Frankfurt area, for a service contract to be concluded with the director of the institute for forensic medicine. This solution harbours two dangers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)