Are invasive postmortem examinations still the gold standard in diagnosing the cause of death?

For many years, the foundations of both its art and science in medicine grew from the observations made at the autopsy table. The observations of the pathologists formed the pathologic basis and manifestations of disease, which further advanced the development of therapeutics. For most of the 18th and 19th centuries, morbid anatomy (autopsy pathology) was considered the science of medicine. Today, the autopsy and the knowledge that derives from it do not hold the position they once did in the profession’s history. There is a belief among the medical community a complete autopsy is necessary to find out the answers when someone dies. In some jurisdictions, the forensic pathology community is reluctant to follow the targeted or minimally invasive approach in postmortem examinations due to a lack of understanding of the process. With a complete external examination, trace evidence collection, total body computed tomography (CT) scan, and minimally invasive/targeted dissection with a collection of samples for further analysis, almost all answers can be provided in hospital and medicolegal autopsy settings. We must collaborate with sister disciplines, such as experts in radiology and the legal community, to educate them on the importance of this new approach using advanced technology.Continuously evolving modern radiological imaging has remarkably increased the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. Conventionally, when you hear the word postmortem examination, people think it includes an external examination and dissection of all body cavities. In the 21st century, most questions raised by the family, clinicians, the coroner (medical examiner), courts, and law enforcement agencies can be answered with a complete external examination of the body, total body CT scan +/- magnetic resonance imaging, and targeted dissection or minimally invasive approach incorporated with sample collection for further testing. This is cost-effective and can produce reviewable data.