Abstract An autopsy is a detailed systematic external and internal examination of a corpse carried out by a pathologist or a medicolegal expert that is the method of choice to establish the cause and manner of death. A clinical autopsy is performed to investigate the extent of a known disease and the effectiveness of treatment, and sometimes for medical audit or research purposes. Usually, the consent of the next of kin is necessary before a clinical autopsy can take place. A medicolegal autopsy, depending on the jurisdiction, is ordered by the competent legal authority to investigate sudden, unexpected, suspicious, or criminal deaths. A complete autopsy includes ancillary investigations such as histological examination of the main organs.