Korean J Leg Med.
2004 May;28(1):18-23.
About reform of autopsy system: focus into the limited autopsy
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Medical Humanities and Social sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea. jhk@amc.seoul.kr
- 2Department of Forensic Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
Abstract
- The autopsy system in Korea is based on the Corpse Autopsy and Preservation Law which Articles 2 didn 't limit medical professors and medical examiners to perform autopsy. But according to the Medical practitioners Law Article 18, only a practicing physician can issue the certificate for postmortem inspec-tion. If an unnatural death is suspected, the postmortem investigation and autopsy should be performed according to the order of Criminal Procedure Code Article 222. The limited role of postmortem investi-gation in unnatural death and respective bodies of postmortem inspection and autopsy, which would cause the overflow of criminal autopsy. The detailed guide-line of unnatural death, should-be verified death cases, practical use of postmortem inspection including the blood and tissue sampling etc, unifica-tion of legislations regarding to autopsy system, the specific warrant of autopsy, which empowers the limited and full autopsy individually would be help to improve that distortion.
