🚀 go-pugleaf

jpschaef@acs.ucalgary.ca (Jeffrey Paul Schaefer) wrote:

>It is not unusual for even the most detailed autopsy not to determine
>the cause of death.  Like any test or examination, autopsies have
>their limitations.   As indicated in a previous reply, there are
>many factors which can impact on the likelihood of determining
>the cause of death.  Complex medical problems, the presence of
>co-existing active disease, the part of the body involved, and so
>on.   The issue of clot lysis is probably valid.  Also, fatal
>abnormalities of the heart's rhythm are not measurable on
>autopsy.  

the death was in a hospital. This should narrow down the
possibilities. It must have been a severe trauma. I've been told that
even after a massive heart attack a person will survive a day or two
at least? is this true?


>Data available about the known health problems of the deceased
>can provide clues about cause of death.  However, the purpose of
>the autopsy is to look for objective evidence of disease and to
>avoid speculation. 

speculation can be dispensed as such and could offer some insight for
someone who cannot hypothesise himself.

>Unfortunately, the popular media tends to give the message
>that an autospy is virtually always revealing of an exact cause
>of death.

>JPS
thank you for your insight
-martin