Deaths and assessment of the cause of death

A forensic medical assessment of a death may examine the cause of death, the estimated time of death and the circumstances of the event. The cause cannot always be established from the medical certificate of cause of death or post-mortem examination report alone. It may therefore be necessary to assess the complete medical records, autopsy findings, scene information and other evidence together.

A forensic medical opinion may be requested where the cause of death is disputed, where the role of an injury or medical care is in question, or where it must be clarified whether the death was natural or non-natural and whether earlier or different care might have changed the outcome.

What questions can I address professionally?

Below I summarise the most common questions that may arise in a forensic medical assessment in this field.

Was this really the cause of death?

The cause of death cannot always be established from the medical certificate of cause of death or post-mortem examination report alone. The forensic medical expert assesses the complete medical records, autopsy findings, scene information and other available evidence together.

Could the death have been prevented?

This question arises particularly often in healthcare disputes. The expert considers whether the death could realistically have been prevented through an appropriate diagnosis, timely treatment or another medical intervention.

Should a forensic autopsy have been performed?

The need for a forensic autopsy depends on the circumstances and the applicable legal requirements. The expert can assess the medical significance of the available findings.

Can the time of death be established?

In some cases, within a time interval. The available medical data, scene information and autopsy findings may allow the time of death, or a time range, to be estimated professionally.

Can it be determined whether the death was natural or non-natural?

The medical findings may support a natural cause or indicate an external contribution. Classification under the applicable procedure requires consideration of the full circumstances.

Can the course of events be reconstructed with certainty from the autopsy findings?

Not in every case. The autopsy findings are extremely important evidence, but they are not always sufficient on their own. The expert compares them with the scene information, medical records and other evidence in every case.

Can new evidence lead to a different professional conclusion?

Yes. Newly available medical records, diagnostic imaging, witness testimony or other relevant evidence may affect the professional assessment. Every expert opinion is therefore based on the evidence available at the time.