Legal Definitions - necropsy

Definition: Necropsy (nek-rop-see) is the same as an autopsy. It is an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death, especially in a criminal investigation.

Examples:

• A doctor performs a necropsy on a person who died suddenly to determine if it was due to natural causes or foul play.
• The police order a necropsy on a murder victim to gather evidence for the investigation.

The examples illustrate that necropsy is a medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death. It is often used in criminal investigations to gather evidence and help solve crimes.