Are Post-mortems essential?

[puddin_n_pie]

Does anybody know if a post-mortem / autopsy is essential in the UK? I read that in America it is illegal not to have an autopsy, but I am suspicious I have been told that somebody close to me "didnt have one" when I asked why thay had died - I find this quite suspicious..

Am I also right in thinking that a post-mortem is always carried out after a murder or suicide?

[El D]

only in suspiciious circumstances as I understand it has to be requested by the police - some people do not want their lvoed ones cut up either.

[OBonio]

Post mortems also have to be done if a patient passes away within a certain amount of time after an operation.

[rja211077]

i believe they're also mandatory for people under a certain age, but i dont know what that age is

[bernardo]

They are normally done if the death is sudden, unexpected, unusaul, suspicious etc.  They are often not done if the person was known to be ill for a long time and was expected to die - as long as they were seen by a doctor within a certain period of time before the death.

[Didwot]

Found myself looking this up only last week. Try this
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en.asp?TopicID=676

[KEJ2000]

Hi... I am American, and that bit about being illegal not to have one is a figment of somebody's imagination!!  (It makes for a good story, though.)  The answer that Bernardo gave here is true state-side as well, though when there is any doubt, I think they err on the side of caution and usually do one.  Better to be safe than sorry.  It's easier to do an autopsy when you have body right there in front of you, than to have to dig up the person after a period of years and do it then, if you suddenly get a clue that the death may have been suspicious.