Editing Autopsy (section)

==Purposes of performance==
Autopsies are performed for either legal or medical purposes. Autopsies can be performed when any of the following information is desired:
* [[Manner of death]] must be determined
** Determine if death was natural or unnatural
** Injury source and extent on the corpse
* [[Post-mortem interval|Post mortem interval]]
* Determining the deceased's identity 
* Retain relevant [[Organ (biology)|organs]]
* If it is an infant, determine [[Live birth (human)|live birth]] and viability

For example, a forensic autopsy is carried out when the [[cause of death]] may be a criminal matter, while a clinical or academic autopsy is performed to find the medical cause of death and is used in cases of unknown or uncertain death, or for research purposes. Autopsies can be further classified into cases where an external examination suffices, and those where the body is dissected and an internal examination is conducted. Permission from [[next of kin]] may be required for internal autopsy in some cases. Once an internal autopsy is complete, the body is reconstituted by sewing it back together.