Ancillary autopsy--forensic histopathology and toxicology

Under the Coroners Act 1988 and the Coroners Rules 1984, the removal of parts or contents of the body which does not bear directly upon the cause of death is restricted. However, it may not be possible in every forensic necropsy to foretell whether the post-mortem removal of body tissue will fulfil a statutory proviso. To emphasize this medico-legal predicament, some examples in which ancillary histopathological examination or toxicological analysis assisted in ascertaining an accurate cause and manner of death are presented as short cases.