Should I give my Living Will Agent permission to do an autopsy?

Some states contain wording in your Advance Healthcare Directive that allows your Agent to agree to an autopsy. An “autopsy” is a post-mortem examination of the corpse by a medical professional, generally to ascertain the cause(s) of death. Except in cases where death seems to have happened under questionable circumstances, government authorities often lack the jurisdiction to perform an autopsy unless the dead person’s legal representative (for example, an Executor or surviving spouse) consents.

Autopsies are an essential source of medical information. This includes family information, such as the reason of death and enhanced awareness of inheritable health issues, as well as societal knowledge, such as a better understanding of the origin, course, and treatment of a disease. The majority of hospitals do not charge for autopsies. An autopsy will not cause a funeral to be delayed or impede the viewing of the corpse.