Autopsies are conducted to determine what four things? Define each.

Aims of an autopsy are to determine:

1. The cause of death - refers to the determination of conditions that result in a human's death which are used in law, medicine, and/or statistics.

2. The state of health of the person-refers to a condition before he or she died (evaluating diseases or injuries that may be present for research or educational purposes)

3. The effectiveness of medical (or surgical) treatment-refers to investigations if the medical diagnosis and treatment before death were appropriate.

4. The possible inherited or genetic conditions-it is important for the family to gain information about inherited diseases.