Community Chat

[Jamma]

If an elderly person dies at home of natural causes and is not under the care of a Doctor---Is an autopsy necessary?

[JustJazzmom]

Call the local public health department and ask this? Were the police involved? Call a local funeral home and ask this question-- they might know the answer too.

[KathyPet]

can't speak to Jersey law but I would imagine it would depend on what you call ""natural causes"". I have had a couple of friends who had terminal illnesses and died at home under hospice care. No autopsy. however if a individual had no specific disease and suddenly died without warning I would imagine a autopsy would be necessary. They have to put something on the death certificate and I don't think ""natural causes"" is acceptable. A friend of mine's husband passed away at age 72 in his sleep. He was not under a doctor' a care except for regular check ups and had no specific illnesses or heart problems. yes a autopsy was done.

[terrier3]

My aunt died peacefully in her sleep at age 76. She had an irregular heart rhythm and was in treatment for that, but nothing else.

I had to call the police to knock down the door to find her.

The officer had to call in a detective who interviewed me (to make sure there was no foul play, I guess). There was no need for an autopsy. She went directly to the funeral director.

That was NY State.