The (post-mortem examination) is the formal medical examination of a deceased person to confirm death, determine the cause and manner of death, and establish the time of death. It is a legal requirement in Germany and a critical step before a death certificate can be issued or a funeral can take place. 1. Purpose and Legal Framework
It contributes to the official mortality statistics used for healthcare planning. 2. Who Performs the Examination?
In public places or cases of suspected foul play, forensic physicians or the police are involved. 3. The Procedure Step-by-Step Die Leichenschau - Thieme E-Books & E-Journals - Die Leichenschau
It ensures death is certain by identifying "sure signs of death" (e.g., Totenflecke or Totenstarre ).
The examination serves several vital functions beyond simply confirming a person has passed: Purpose and Legal Framework It contributes to the
Next of kin are responsible for notifying a doctor immediately. Often, this is the deceased's general practitioner (GP) or an emergency physician.
Doctors must distinguish between natural death (from internal illness) and non-natural/unclear death (accident, suicide, or crime). In public places or cases of suspected foul
The responsibility falls strictly on physicians, though the specific type of doctor often depends on where the death occurred: