Autopsy in an Embalmed Corpse: A Case Report

Medico-legal autopsy in an embalmed body is an extremely infrequent incidence. One such case has been conducted at Kolkata Police Morgue. The dead body was donated at department of Anatomy for academic dissection purpose by medical students, as desired by the deceased before death. The body was embalmed for preservation. But sixteen days after death, a complaint has been lodged by one of the legal heir having a suspicion of foul play. Hence the autopsy was performed on the order of the honorable court to ascertain actual cause and manner of death. There was a history of head injury due to fall from bed. On admission, surgical intervention was done at a nursing home but no police case was filed at that time. During autopsy all the injuries were evidently identified. The merits and demerits of autopsy on such embalmed body have been discussed in the case report. Embalming artefacts should be dealt with extreme caution before giving opinion.